LAGENOKIIYNCHUS OBLIQUIDEN.S. 99 



Lagenorhynckus Longidens Cope. 



This species is known only from the single skull (No. 388G) brieUy 

 but accurately described by Professor Cope in 1<SGG, under the name of 

 Delphinus longideus. There is but one point in this description which 

 1 would criticise. Professor Cope writes as follows: 



Ddpldnns longidens. Of the type of D. {Tiirsio) ohscurus Gray, but with a cousid- 

 erably louger muzzle and much longer iirenareal triangle, etc. 



Measurements of the two type-skulls, according to the system which 

 I have adopted, show that the total length and length of rostrum are 

 absolutely the same in each, viz, total length 14.5 inches ; length of 

 rostrum, 7.9 inches. 



In commenting upon his description Professor Cope justly remarks : 



From the above [measureuieut] it will be seen that the nearest ally of this species 

 is the Ddphinus {Laginorhynchus) claiwidus Gray, in which the muzzle is cousiderably 

 shorter and the cranium relatively longer and wider — that is, length of cranium 

 proper equal in the latter to the length of the muzzle, and breadth at cu'bit a little 

 greater than either. Its form renders a distinction between LagenorhijnchtiH and I)cl- 

 jyhinuH* improbable on present bases. t 



Mr. Da1l regards this latter view untenable in the light of Dr. 

 Gray's revision of 1871, and places the species in the genus CUjmenia 

 [ = ProdeJphmus Gervais). 



The skull upon which this species is based was received with the 

 spoils of the United States Exploring Expedition, but the locality was 

 unfortunately not given. The records show nothing except that the 

 skull was packed with other objects in a box marked '^B. 26 — Z. (L.)" 

 There is a second mandible in the collection (No. 4117), whicli bears the 

 same marks, and undoubtedly belongs to ihe same species, but of this 

 ^ilso the locality is unrecorded. After following out all the clews sug- 

 gested by the original records, and the statements in both editions of 

 the Mammalogy of the United States Exploring Expedition, I am forced 

 to believe that it will never be possible to ascertain the history of these 

 specimens, or to make sure that they did not form the basis of some of 

 the species erected by Peale. 



The type-skull is considerably broken, the pterygoid, malar, and tym- 

 panic bones being absent. Professor Cope states that the pterygoid 

 bones were not in contact. After repeatedly examining this skull, I 

 have become convinced that it is simply a small and youngish example 

 of L. ohliquideiis. It presents no characters which can not be found in 

 skulls of the latter species. 



Clymenia Similis Gray. 



The skull on which this species is founded can not be distinguished 

 from skulls of X. ohJiqnidem. It is nearly of the same size as the 

 largest of our skidls of the latter si)ecies. The pterygoid bones are 

 divergent posteriot ly and the palatine table is constricted. 



" Prodelphiniis, as now uadorstood. — F. W. T. t Cope, 1. c, p. 296, 



