201 



EIGHTH GENUS. ZIPHIUS. 



OP the next genus, Ziphius, introduced by Cuvier, 

 we shall, in this place, allude but to one of the 

 three species he has established, and this for the 

 purpose of satisfying the reader of the accuracy 

 of those general statements we have formerly made 

 concerning this most important, but somewhat dry 

 portion of the order. The genus is fossile. The 

 specimens, or rather fragments, which Cuvier pos- 

 sessed, were found in various parts of Europe. He 

 states that their craniums ally them to the Cachalots, 

 and still more to the Hyperoodons, many of the dis- 

 tinguishing characters of which they possess. They 

 all appear to have been quite destitute of teeth. 



ZIPHIUS PLANIROSTRIS (Cuv. Oss. Foss. Y. 352). 

 THIS species was formed on the examination of 

 many heads which were discovered in 1809, com- 

 pletely petrified, in excavating the docks at Ant- 

 werp, where they occupied the deepest parts. They 

 were lying half a mile from the banks of the Escaut, 

 thirteen feet above the lowest run of the water, and 

 thirty feet under the mean level of the town, below 

 several strata of sand and clay, of various thickness, 

 which contained a great number of shells and teeth 

 of sharks, &c. It would appear clear that this species 

 never could have had any teeth, and to use Cuvier's 

 words, it is certain that there are none of the Cetee 

 whose osteology is known, which exhibits a struc- 

 ture similar to that which belongs to this tribe. 



