Sowerhy''s Whale (Mesoplodon biclens). 57 



total length of 14 inches, 6^ of which were included in the 

 alveolus and gum ; at the point at which it emerged from the 

 alveolus it was 3g inches in breadth, and continuing its growth 

 in strap-like form " it curved obliquely backwards, upwards, 

 and inwards," the two teeth crossing each other on the 

 dorsum of the beak, thus greatly restricting tlie motion of the 

 lower jaw. 



In addition to the two remarkable teeth just described a 

 number of rudimentary and functionless concealed teeth have 

 been detected in M. biclens^ and in a JSTew-Zealand species 

 (i!/. Grayi) such teeth are said to be constant ; with regard 

 to this interesting fact Prof. Flower observes *, " We have here 

 the permanent retention of a condition intermediate betw een 

 that of the irregular, completely concealed, probably only 

 temporary, and quite functionless teeth, mentioned above 

 [il/. bidens]y and the normal state of dentition of the true 

 Dolpliins, and it is especially interesting that this should 

 have been met with in a member of the genus otherwise least 

 modified from the Dolphins." 



Prof. Turner, in 1882, enumerates tliirteen instances of the 

 occurrence of this species, three of which were met with in 

 Scotland, two on the Irish coast, and the remainder on the 

 Continent or in the United States. Since that time one other 

 Scotch specimen has occurred, also the subject of this commu- 

 nication, which is believed to be the first record of its occur- 

 rence on the English coast. The following is a list of the 

 known occurrences, with particulars as to the locality &c., 

 compiled from Prof. Turner's paper and other sources. 



1. The first recognized example of this species came on 

 shore at Brodie, in Elginshire, in the year 1800; the imper- 

 fect skull and a drawing of the animal were forwarded to the 

 late Mr. Sowerby, by whom they were figured and described 

 in his 'British Miscellany,' vol. i. p. 1, in 1806, under the 

 name of Physeter hidens. It was an adult male 16 feet in 

 length. From Mr. Sowerby 's collection the skull passed 

 through Dr. Buckland to the Oxford Anatomical Museum, 

 where it now is. 



2. A female 15 feet long^ stranded at Havre on Sept. 9, 

 1825, the skull of which is preserved in the Paris Museum. 

 It was described by De Blainville (Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. 

 Philom. t. iv. p. 139). 



3. A male from Sallenelles, Calvados, in the north of 

 France, also in the year 1825, the skull and part of the skele- 

 ton of which are preserved in the Museum of Caen. 



* Trans, Zool. Soc. x. p. 425. 



