'28 BULLETIN ;]!?, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



I did not see tlic specimen when in London, and if my memory serves 

 me, was informed that it conld not be found. Even if it still exists, 

 however, I think the same ruling- should be applied in this case as in 

 that of Tursio2)s cymodice, regarding which Professor Flower says : 



T. ci/iuodice may ho at oucc expuugcd from tlic list. It is founded upon a single 

 sliull of a very young animal ; the basilar suture is not closed, and all its distinguish- 

 ing characters are those of immaturity. It is impossible to say even of which variety 

 it is the young. {Characters and Divisions, p. 480.) 



Such, too, is the case with this Stoiofnscus, and it should be dropped 

 forever from the catalogue of species. 



Since the foregoing paragraphs were written, Dr. Llitken has pub- 

 lished an important account of the genera Stcno, Belpliimis and Prodel- 

 phimis, based on the material in the Copenhagen Museum.* 



He gives in plate 1 a colored figure of ^S. rostralus, constructed from 

 data furnished by Captain Andrea. This figure does not agree closely 

 with those of Cuvier, Van Breda or Peters, but is unquestionably much 

 more accurate than those of the first two authors mentioned. That it 

 represents the species called Delpliinus rostraivs by Cuvier and Desma- 

 rest is highl}^ probable, and I have, therefore, substituted it for Cuvier's 

 figure as an illustration in the Synopsis. 



There are no grounds for considering Peters' figure of S. pcrspicillatus 

 less accurate than the newly-published figure of >S^. rostratus. There is, 

 however, a decided want of agreement between the two figures and the 

 descriptions in regard to the coloration of the species. Until, therefore, 

 it can be proven that S. iiersincillatus is the young of 8. rosfratiis, or 

 that the coloration of the latter is exceedingly variable, it seems to me 

 that the Peters' species must be considered distinct. Tbe two species 

 are quite similar in osteological characters. Their vertebral formula) 

 arc as follows : 



S. rostratus, C. 7 ; D. 13 ; L. 15 ; Ca. 30 = G5. 



8. persjnciUatus, C. 7 ; D. 12 ; L. 15 ; Ca. 32 = GO. 



The specimen of 8. rostratus captured by Captain Aiulrea and de- 

 scribed by Dr. Llitken, was taken in 1° 14' S. lat., 17° 20' W. long., or 

 about midway between Ascension Island and the coast of Africa. 



The following measurements of the exterior were taken : 



Ccutimcterg. 



Total length 257.4 



Height immediately in front of the dorsal fin . ^ GT. G 



From the snout to the dorsal fin 111. 8 



From the snout to the eye 41. G 



From the same to the blow-hole 3G. 4 



From the same to the pectoral fin G5. 



The skeleton was about 210''™ long ; the head alone 53''". The first 

 two cervical vertebrae were anchylosed together, but the neural arch 



*Cbr. Fr. Liitken. K. DauskoVidcr.sk. Selsk. Skr., Gto Raekkc, uaturvidcu. og 

 math. Afd., V, 188'.), pt. 1, pp. 1-61, 1 pi. and 2 charts. 



