242 Dr. J. E. Gray on the Geographical 
XXXI.—On the Geographical Distribution of the Baleenide or 
Right Whales. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., 
F.L.S., &e. 
Pror. VAN BENEDEN has read a paper to the Royal Belgian 
Academy on the geographical distribution of Les Baleines, 
which is published in the first number of the ‘ Bulletin’ for 
1868, accompanied by a map. He acknowledges only five 
species of Right Whales, having the following geographical 
distribution :— 
1. B. mysticetus, The Arctic Ocean on both sides of Green- 
land, and on the coast of Siberia to the Sea of Okhotsk. 
2. B. biscayensis. ‘The North Atlantic, from latitude 65° 
to 45°, and a belt across the Atlantic to the coast of the United 
States, from lat. 45° to 50°. 
3. B. japonica. A band across the North Pacific from 
lat. 60° to 45° on the west coast of America and 45° to 30° on 
the coast of Japan. | 
4, B. australis. A belt across the South Atlantic from 
lat. 25° to 30° on the west coast of Africa and lat. 35° to 50° 
on the coast of South America. 
5. B. antipodarum. In a similar belt across the South 
Pacific from the west coast of South America, in lat. 45°, to 
New Zealand. 
Thus it will be seen that M. Van Beneden supposes that 
Right Whales inhabit belts across all the seas except the 
Indian Ocean. This exception is extraordinary, as Capt. 
Maury’s chart shows that Right Whales are comparatively 
abundant in a belt between latitude 30° and 50° from the 
Cape of Good Hope to Australia. It is in this belt that 
Balena marginata and B. australiensis are most probably 
found; but M. Van Beneden ignores the existence of these 
species. 
Mr. Blyth also mentions a species of Right Whale, under 
the name of B. indica, founded on some bones in the Museum 
of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which he says inhabits ‘the 
Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and occasionally enters the 
Persian Gulf.’ But this must be a mistake, as these places 
are situated in the torrid zone, which is to these animals, as 
Capt. Maury justly observes, ‘‘ forbidden ground; and it is as 
physically impossible for them to cross the equator as it would 
be to cross a sea of flame. In short, these researches show 
that there is a belt, of from two to three thousand miles in 
breadth and reaching from one side of the ocean to the other, 
in which the Right Whale is never found.” (Maury, Whale- 
Charts, p. 233.) | 
a ee eee 
ct Se pemeeetin ee 
