620 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxi. 



"Eaj. pise. 6" = RAY, Synopsis Methodica Piscium, 1713, p. 6. 



The uomeiiclature in this work is polynomial, and we find instead of 

 a specific name the usual brief diagnosis, consisting, however, of 

 generic and supergeneric characters. This is followed by an extended 

 account of the supposed species compiled from early writers. From 

 the localities given it is evident that the bowhead and black whale or 

 nordcaper are confounded. Thus the author mentions a specimen 

 reported by Faber as beiug stranded in 1624 not far from the maritime 

 fortress of St. Severus, about 30 miles from Eome; of another near 

 Corsica in 1G20, and a third stranded in 1532 (according to Polydorus 

 Virgil) at Tyuemouth, England. These, if they refer to right whales 

 at all, were the black whale and not the bowhead. On the other hand, 

 Ray quotes from Martens, who observed the bowhead at Spitzbergeu. 



"Art. gen. 76" = ARTEDI, Genera Piscium, 1738, p. 76. 



"Syn. 106"= ARTEDI, Synonymia Nominum Piscium, 1738, p. 106. 



Artedi in the two works cited gives a brief diagnosis without genu- 

 ine specific characters, and describes a specimen which he himself 

 examined in London, November, 1734. It is highly probable that his 

 description, which appears to indicate clearly that he had before him a 

 right whale or true Bakvna, relates to the black whale or nordcaper. 

 In the Genera Piscium, however, he cites among his bibliographical 

 references Marten's ^^Bahvna Si)itsber{je7isis,'^ which was the bowhead 

 or Greenland whale. He also gives "Greenland whale" as the English 

 name of his species, and "Gronlands Hualfisk'' as the Swedish name. 

 It is evident that Artedi did not distinguish between the black whale 

 and the bowhead. 



"Faun, suec." 264 = LINNiEUS, Fauna Suecica, 1746, No. 264 (p. 98). 



This work is polynomial, and at the place cited we find only what is 

 really an attem'pt at a brief diagnosis, consisting, however, of generic 

 characters, followed by citations of numerous early authors, such as 

 Gesner and Jonston, and the remarks " Gronlands tvalfisk of the 

 Swedes;" "inhabits the Atlantic Ocean, feeding on meduste." 



" Syst. nat. 39, n. i." 



I understand this to refer to the ninth edition of the Systema Naturre. 

 The matter, however, is not on page 39 but on page 40. Under No. 1 

 we have the same references to the Fauna Suecica and Artedi's 

 Synonymia which we find in the tenth edition of the Systema Naturte, 

 now under consideration. The entire matter is as follows: "1. Bakena 

 fistula in medio capite, dorso caudem versus acuminato. Art. syn. 106, 

 Fn. 264. Mysticetus. la Balaine." 



No new or independent information will be looked for here. 



It will be perceived from the foregoing examination of Linna-us's 

 authorities that these writers had no clear notion of the distinction 

 between the black whale and the bowhead, or even in some cases 

 between the different types of whalebone whales, and that it is conse- 



