142 



THE LESSER RORQUAL. 



PLATE VIL 



Rorqualus Minor, Knox. — Bal. Roetrata, Fa5., Hunter. — 

 Balaenoptera Acuto-Rostrata, Laeepede, Scorseby. 



For the undisputed establislimeiit of tliis species, 

 the scientific world is indebted to the zeal and assi- 

 duity of Dr. Knox; to whom, and also to his 

 brother, our readers, and stiU more we ourselves, 

 ai*e especially indebted for the accomprmying repre- 

 sentation of a striking draAving in the possession of 

 tlie latter gentleman. It is true that Fabricius de- 

 scribed this species with his accustomed elegance 

 and precision; !Mr. Himter likewise met with and 

 delineated it, having probably examined it mth care, 

 as he makes frequent allusion to it in his published 

 works ; Mr. Scorseby's work also contains an exact 

 representation, supplied through Dr. Trail. But 

 notwithstanding all this, the details collected were 

 so meagre and slight, that not only were much 

 ignorance and error prevalent concerning it, but 

 many naturalists, of whom Cuvier, in 1823, was 

 one, were led to doubt even its existence : " JNIais 

 qui oserait soutenir que ces dfferences ne venoient 

 pas de I'age." fOss. Foss. v. 366.) 



Dr. Knox's specimen was taken in Febnuny, 



