ox THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE WHALEBONE WHALES 

 OF THE TENTH EDITION OF LINN.FUS'S SYSTEM A 

 NATLR.E. 



By Frederick W. True, 



Head Curator, Department of Biology. 



The present paper is intended as an introduction to an inquiry as to 

 the identity of the whalebone whales fref^uenting respectively the 

 Eastern and the Western Atlantic. 



The species inhabiting European waters have been studied by many 

 naturalists for a very long time, and may be said to be well known. 

 Those of the American coasts and of African waters, on the contrary, 

 have received less attention and are much less well understood. As 

 regards North American species, some zoologists have tacitly assumed 

 that they were identical with the European forms, while others have 

 bestowed new names on the various specimens which have come under 

 their observation. The whole subject is, therefore, involved in an uncer- 

 tainty, which is a hindrance to the progress of cetology in many ways, 

 and especially prevents a correct understanding of the geographical dis- 

 tribution of these huge animals. 



As a preliminary step to the investigation of this subject, it has 

 seemed to me desirable that the nomenclature of the European sjiccies 

 should be thoroughly established. Taking as the starting point the 

 Tenth Edition of Linna-us's Systema Natura', I have endeavored to 

 ascertain whether the names in current use for the species are the cor- 

 rect ones according to accepted canons of nomenclature. 



It has to be said that the species of cetaceans in the Systema are no 

 more to be certainly determined from the diagnoses than many other 

 Linufcean species. The main reliance has to be placed on the biblio- 

 graphical references and synonymy, but even with these helps the Lin- 

 naan species are not always to be identified beyond peradventure. 

 Nevertheless, the tendency of zoologists in the main is to adopt these 

 names whenever at least a colorable defense of them can be made. This 

 is, undoubtedly, on the whole, a wise course, as the tendency of all 

 nomenclatural investigations is to go back as far as is in anywise war- 

 rantable. If one goes no farther back than the earliest fully-established 

 name, there are always those who, taking up the matter anew, will 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXI— No. 1 163, 



617 



