144 



THE LESSER RORQUAL. 



can look at the Plate, without being irresistibly 

 impressed with the conviction that this is its true 

 and appropriate use. This examination has also, 

 we apprehend, put an end to all the idle hypotheses 

 concerning the alleged swimming bladder under the 

 tongue, which were grounded on a mistake of Sir 

 Joseph Banks, which was at once rejected by John 

 Hunter, but which has misled the accurate Lesson, 

 as well as more recent writers on the subject. 



But we have yet to state how Dr. Knox esta- 

 blished that the Lesser Rorqual must be considered 

 as a distinct species. He has done so as a com- 

 parative anatomist, in a single instance, and for 

 ever. We have already expressed our obligations 

 to him as the proprietor of the skeleton of the Great 

 Rorqual ; he also possesses that of the one now 

 under review, and the examination of their osteo- 

 logy gives the following result : 



Other differences than those involved in this single 

 statement might be mentioned, which quite agree 

 with more popular observations ; but these, at this 

 time, must suffice. 



Before laying Dr. K/s short notice aside, we must 

 introduce his remarks concerning the valves of the 

 spiracles. " Two bolster-like substances filled the 

 canals, which are withdrawn from them at the 

 moment of breathing, by muscles provided for that 



