2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 70 



SO that the technique of dissection was necessarily very bad. It can not 

 be claimed that every one of the smaller muscles was differentiated. 

 When a point was at all doubtful, however, mention is made of the 

 fact, and by working carefully and noting the direction of the fibers, 

 it is felt that even when the muscles were in too bad a state to be 

 properly handled the results of the dissection are sufficiently accu- 

 rate for all practical purposes. It seems needless to say that the 

 dissection of material in such a state of preservation should rarely 

 be attempted, but cetacean material that is suitable for myological 

 study so seldom comes to hand that advantage should be taken of 

 every opportunity. 



An adequately thorough investigation of specialization for an 

 aquatic existence among the Mammalia calls for a study of the 

 anatolmy of representatives of a number of orders. On account of 

 the present lack of desired material, however, and because it is un- 

 likely that this can be secured in the immediate future, the present 

 contribution will be offered separately and without discussion. 



HISTORICAL 



The latest paper of any length dealing with Neomeris is that of 

 Glover M. Allen (1923). In this its generic and specific history is 

 clearly and adequately presented, so that further discussion of this 

 item would constitute mere repetition. Allen employs, however, 

 the generic name Meomeris, which Thomas (1925) has discarded in 

 favor of Neomeris, an action entirely in accord with the opinion of 

 the present writer. 



MATERIAL 



Exclusive of those in the United States National Museum there are 

 evidently no more than a dozen specimens of this porpoise pre- 

 served in the institutions of the world, and several of these are 

 fragmentary and undoubtedly in a very poor state of preservation. 

 The National Museum material, however, is more comprehensive 

 than all the remainder combined. This material is as follows: 



Alcoholics : 



240862/ im. female. Woosung, Kiangsu, China. May 24, 1924. F. R. 

 Wulsin. 



240863, juv. female. Woosung, Kiangsu, China. Mar. 20, 1924. F. R. 

 Wulsin. 



240866, im. female. Woosung, Kiangsu, China. May, 1924. F. R. Wulsin. 



240864, im. female. Yangtze, Kiangsu, China. Mar. 26, 1924. F. R. 

 Wulsin. 



240865, ad. female. Whangpoo Cr., Kiangsu, China. April, 1924. F. R. 

 Wulsin. 



239611, juv. male. Yochow, Hunan, China. May 20, 1923. C. M. Hoy. 



