22 
MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
The California Gray Whale is only found in north latitudes, and its migrations 
have never been known to extend lower than 20° north. It frequents the coast of 
California from November to May. During these months the cows enter the lagoons 
on the lower coast to bring forth their young,* while the males remain outside 
ers smooth ; the sixth and seventh slightly ser- 
rate on the upper anterior edge, and without 
ventral spines. Color, yellowish white. Lon. 
0.70, lat. 0.39 in., of largest specimen. 
9 Similar to the 5 in all respects, excepting 
in being a little more slender, and in wanting 
the accessory appendages to the branchiae ; the 
ovigerous sacs are four in number, overlapping 
each other. 
Habitat, on the California Gray Whale ( Rha- 
chianecles glaucus of Cope), upon the Coast of 
California ; very numerous. I may remark here 
that these species are all so distinct from those 
figured by Milne -Edwards, Gosse, and Bate & 
"Westwood, that a comparative description has 
seemed unnecessary ; also, that the species ob- 
tained on different species of Cetaceans have so 
far been found invariably distinct. The infer- 
ence is, of course, that each Cetacean has its 
peculiar parasites — a supposition which agrees 
with our knowledge of the facts in many groups 
of terrestrial animals. 
Cryptolepas rhachianecti, Dall, n. s. Valves 
subequal, rostrum radiate, not alate. Lateral 
valves anteriorly alate, posteriorly radiate ; ca- 
rina alate, not radiate. Each valve internally 
transversely deeply grooved, and furnished ex- 
ternally with six radiating laminae, vertically 
sharply grooved ; the adjacent terminal laminae 
of each two valves coalescing to form one lami- 
na of extra thickness ; all the laminae bifurcated 
and thickened toward the outer edges, with two 
or more short spurs on each side, irregularly 
placed between the shell -wall and the bifurca- 
tion. Superior terminations of the valves (blunt- 
ly pointed?) usually abraded, transversely striate. 
Scuta subquadrate, adjacent anteriorly, and very 
slightly beaked in the middle of the occludent 
margin; terga subquadrate, small, separated from 
the scuta by intervening membrane ; both very 
small in proportion to the orifice. Membranes 
very thin and delicate, raised into small lamellae 
between the opercular valves. All the calcareous 
matter pulverulent, and showing a strong tend- 
ency to split up into laminae. Antero- posterior 
diameter of large specimen, 1.62 inch ; ditto of 
orifice, 0.G3 inch ; transverse diameter of orifice, 
0.58 inch ; lon. scuta, 0.17 inch ; lat. ditto, 0.08 
inch; lon. terga, 0.07 inch; lat. ditto, 0.07 inch. 
Color of membranes, when living, sulphur yel- 
low ; hood, extremely protrusile. 
This species is found sessile on the California 
Gray Whale (Rhachianecles glaucus, Cope). I 
have observed them on specimens of that species 
hauled up on the beach at Monterey for cutting 
off the blubber, in the bay -whaling of that 
locality. The superior surface of the lateral 
laminae, being covered by the black skin of the 
whale, is not visible; and the animal, removed 
from its native element — protruding its bright 
yellow hood in every direction, to a surprising 
distance, as if gasjnng for breath — presented a 
truly singular appearance. 
* The question is often raised, as to whether 
the cetaceous animals have more than one young 
one at a birth? but it seems evident to us that 
they never have more than two, for Nature has 
made no provision whereby more than that num- 
ber could draw sustenance at the same time from 
the parent animal ; and even where provision is 
made for two among the marine mammalia, par- 
ticularly in the case of the seal tribe, it is rare- 
ly if ever that the female produces twins. It is 
true that instances have occurred where two, 
three, or more cubs have been seen with one 
California Gray Whale ; but this has only hap- 
pened in the lagoons where there had been 
great slaughter among the cows, leaving their 
young ones motherless, so that these straggle 
about, sometimes following other whales, some- 
times clustering by themselves a half-dozen to- 
gether. We know of one instance where a whale 
which had a calf perhaps a month old was killed 
close to a ship. When the mother was taken 
to the ship to be cut in, the young one followed, 
and remained playing about for two weeks ; but 
