Dr. J. E. Gray on the Bonnet of the Whale. 65 



pits being much larger than the rest, and dividing the surface into 

 six prominences. The whole substance seems to be formed of irregular 

 horny layers placed one under the other, the lowest layer being the 



one last formed ; and each of these layers is more or less crumpled and 

 plicated on the surface, giving the irregular appearance to the mass. 



The lower layer is attached to the skin of the whale, a part of the 

 skin being attached to the inner surface of the mass, or bonnet, as it 

 is called. 



On showing the specimen to a foreign zoologist, he stated that it 

 was an excrescence on the skin of a whale, formed by the adhesion 

 of the barnacles called Coronula, and that the irregularities on the 

 surface of the bonnet were caused by the attachment and wearing- 

 action of these animals. 



This is quite a mistake, the Coronulcs sink themselves into the epi- 

 dermis of the whale, as is also the case with the genus Tubicinella. 

 I have seen numerous specimens of both these animals in situ, and 

 the skin round the cirripedes is scarcely altered in structure, and 

 offers no resemblance to the horny excrescence called the bonnet. 

 Any one who examines the bonnet will find that the plate of horn 

 of which it is formed is plicated and folded when deposited ; and this 

 explains the irregularity of the general form of the body. 



The zoologist referred to has since said that he believes it is caused 

 by the irritation of the whale-louse, and that the irregularities on 

 the surface are caused by them. This may perhaps have arisen from 

 the surface of the specimen being covered with whale-lice when it 

 was first procured from the whaler ; but this may be only because 

 the hollow on the surface forms a good hiding-place for them ; and I 

 think the supposition that they are the origin of the wart or horn 

 requires further observation. 



Mr. Holdsworth has since sent to the Museum a much smaller 

 specimen, also obtained at the Sandwich Islands, which is oblong, 

 elongate, and more symmetrical ; but the upper surface is not so 

 evenly channelled. It is 6 inches long and 2^ wide. It is spoken 

 of by the whalers as a wart on the tip of the nose, and is commonly 

 called the " Whale's bonnet." 



I do not recollect observing any notice of this '* bonnet," or giant 

 corn, or rudimentary frontal horn, as it may be regarded, in any ac- 



Ann, ^ Mag. N.^Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xv. 5 



