Dr. J. Murle on the Skin &c, of the Rhjtina. 309 



and texturally with the ruminant pad ; hence the homologue 

 of the whalebone must be looked for laterally, i. e. in the situa- 

 tion heretofore mentioned. 



Two ideal representations* of the Bhytina have hitherto 

 been attempted, and these based on Steller's description. In 

 my judgment neither are satisfactory as regards either shape 

 or composition of the external surface of the hide. A few 

 years ago I dissected the carcass of a Manatee, whereof I 

 took a number of photographs of the exterior. Several of my 

 representations were of the natural size ; and, what with a study 

 of these, preparations in spirit of parts of the Dugong, and a 

 familiar acquaintance with the cetacean skin fresh and other- 

 wise, I became convinced that Steller's description of that of 

 Bhytina indicated its coriaceous tegument as but a magnified 

 example of that of Manatus. My further researches among 

 the Sirenia led me to an examination of the remains of the 

 fossil Halitherium in several of the continental as well as our 

 own museums. In brief, I had drawn on stone a represent- 

 ment both of Halitherium and Rhytina^ founded on my know- 

 ledge, on tlie external appearance of their allies, their own 

 skeletal framework, and Steller's passages respecting the derm 

 of Rhytina. Though some time in my possession, it is only 

 lately I showed the plate to a few friends ere finishing my 

 nearly complete MS. Among others cognizant of my illus- 

 tration, I mention Dr. J. E. Gray, Mr. Busk, and Mr. Dallas. 

 But a day after (2nd March), conversing on the subject with 

 the latter gentleman, he intimated to me, '' By-the-by, Murie, 

 our library (Geol. Soc.) has just received some memoirs of the 

 Academy of St. Petersburg, and among them one on the skin 

 of Rhytina, which you ought to see, as it may interest you." 



As may be supposed, I lost no time in referring to the 

 paper f. To my surprise I found a splendid plate, illus- 

 trating a real hand fide piece of Rhytina-sk'm — one of the 

 figures, a photograph from the original, almost exactly re- 

 sembling what I had already conceived and depicted. Thus 

 an hiatus of very considerable importance towards a knowledge 

 of this outreSivemsin has been attained through Dr. Alexander 

 Brandt's paper. As the Russian author, moreover, has en- 

 lightened us with a fresh description and figures of the para- 

 site (first discovered by Steller) which lodged on the skin of the 

 Rhytina, I purpose giving an epitome of, with remarks on, his 



* J. F. Brandt, monograplis quoted, Taf. v. (1849), and woodcut p. 282 

 (1861-68). 



t "Ueber die Haut der nordiscben Seekub {Rhytina borealis, 111.)," 

 von Dr. Alexander Brandt. Mem. I'Acad. Imp. d. Sci. de >St. PtStersb. 

 7« ser. tom. xvii. No. 7 (1871). 



