370 ZIPHIUS CHAP. 
Ziphius is a genus which is also of world-wide range. Here 
again the number of species is at present merely a matter of 
opinion. The prevalent impression, however, is that but a 
single species exists, which will therefore have the name of 
Z. cavirostris. The genus (and for the matter of that the species 
too) may be thus characterised in comparison with its allies. 
The mesethmoid is ossified as in J/esoplodon, but the nasals joined 
together form the vertex of the skull. There are two teeth near 
the symphysis of the mandible, besides the usual small and 
“funetionless” teeth in the upper jaw. The vertebral formula is 
Co( 9 or dO alae a2 te 
The throat of a Ziphius from New Zealand was described by 
Messrs. Scott and Parker!’ as having three grooves on each side. 
Whether this form is the same as von Haast’s 7 novae zelandiae 
is a matter of doubt; but the individual to which his name has 
been applied was 26 feet long, and had but a single groove on 
each side. Even in the external characters of many Whales many 
points require clearing up. Our knowledge of Ziphius dates from 
the year 1804, when a skull “ completely petrified in appearance ” 
was picked up upon the Mediterranean coast of France, and 
described by the great Cuvier. It was forty years before another 
specimen was found. In the New Zealand specimen of von 
Haast already referred to, the body was scored by numerous 
lacerations. These wounds may have been due to fights among 
the Whales themselves; the forwardly-situated teeth would be 
capable of inflicting such wounds. But it has also been stated 
that the armed suckers of gigantic cuttle-fish are responsible for 
these scratches. 
Hyperoodon is the most easily - distinguishable genus of 
Ziphioid Whales. Its characters are the following :—The skull 
has enormously-developed maxillary crests in the adult male; the 
mesethmoid is not fully ossified. There is but a single tooth to 
each ramus of the lower jaw, besides, of course, the usual small 
teeth in the upper jaw. The vertebral formula is C 7, D9, L 9, 
Ca 18. The cervicals are fused into one mass, more or fewer 
being free in other Ziphioids. The sternum consists of three 
pieces only, the last of which is bifid posteriorly. 
The name Hyperoodon was given to this Whale by Colonel 
Lacepéde on account of the rough papillae upon the palate, which 
1 Trans. Zool. Soc. xii. 1889, p. 241. 
