XII.] 



CETACEA. 



221 



The supraorbital processes of the frontals are very long 

 and narrow in the Right Whales, but broader in the Rorquals ; 

 they are not covered by plates from the maxillae, as in the 

 Dolphins. The orbit is small and completed below by a 

 small curved malar, quite different from that of the 

 Dolphins. There is a small wedge-shaped lacrymal inter- 

 posed between the antorbital processes of the frontal and 

 maxilla and the malar. 



FIG. 67 Section of the skull if a foclal Southern Right Whale (Baltrna austratis). 

 i\. /M/r prcmaxilla ; \a nasal : /rfronlal ; fa parietal : SO cupmoccipital : OS 

 orbitosphcnoid ; . I-V alisphenoid ; Kx<) exoccipital ; Per penotic ; BO basi- 

 occipital : Ty tympanic ; US basisphenoid ; Sy glenoid articular surface of suua- 

 mosal ; XV ptcryguid ; /V palatine; f'S presphenoid ; I'a vomer; /V.r maxilla: 

 </ coronoid process uf mandible; cd condyle ; dg dental groove ; mg remains of 

 groove which lodged Mcckel's cartilage. No part of the mcscthmoid is ossified. 



The palate is long and narrow, with a strong keel or 

 ridge in the middle line. The surface on each side, sloping 

 upwards and outwards, is perforated by many large foramina 

 to permit the passage of blood-vessels and nerves to the 

 matrix of the baleen, or " whalebone," which covers it in 

 the living animal. It is chiefly formed by the maxilla, 



