142 



THE LESSER RORQUAL. 

 PLATE VII. 



Rorqualus Minor, Knox. Bal. Rostrata, Fab., Hunter. 

 Balaenoptera Acuto- Rostrata, Laoepede, Scorseby. 



FOR the undisputed establishment of this 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 still more we ourselves, 

 are especially indebted for the accompanying repre- 

 sentation of a striking drawing in the possession OA 

 the latter gentleman. It is true that Fabricius de- 

 scribed this species with his accustomed elegance 

 and precision; Mr. Hunter likewise met with and 

 delineated it, having probably examined it with 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 : " Mais 

 qui oserait soutenir que ces differences ne venoient 

 pas de 1'age." ( Oss. Foss. v. 366.) 



Dr. Knox's specimen was taken in February, 



