240 Miscellaneous. 



■07 in. Colour of membranes, when living, sulphur-yellow ; hood 

 extremely protrusile. 



This species is found sessile on the California grey whale (Eha- 

 chianectes gJaucus, Cope). I have observed them on specimens of 

 that species hauled vip on the beach at Monterey for cutting off the 

 blubber, in the bay-whaUng of that locality. The superior surface 

 of the lateral laminae being covered by the black skin of the whale, 

 was not visible ; and the animal, removed from its native element, 

 protruding its bright yellow hood in ever)' direction to a surprising 

 distance, as if gasping for breath, presented a truly singular appear- 

 ance. 



Pedunculata. 

 Otion, Leach, 



Otion, Leach, Encycl. Britamiica, suppl. vol. iii. p. 170. 



Otion >Stini2')Sonl, Dall, n. sp. 



Scuta only present, beaked, with the umbones on the occludent 

 margins ; anterior prolongation the longer, pointed, rather slender ; 

 posterior prolongation rounded, Avider ; external margin coucave. 

 Colour (in spirits) light orange with a dark purple streak on the 

 rostral surface and on each side of the peduncle, while the lateral 

 surfaces of the body-case and lobes are mottled ■with dark purj^le. 

 The lower lip of the orifice is transversely striated and translucent, 

 the upper margins, slightly reflexed internally, white ; in some spe- 

 cimens with two prolongations or small lobes above, which are wanting 

 in other specimens. The tubular prolongations very irregular and 

 variable in size and form, usually unsymmetrical ; one sometimes 

 nearly abortive. Length of peduncle 2-8 in., of body 2-16 in., of lobes 

 2*0 in., of orifice l'18in., of scuta •55 in. ; width of scuta '16 in. 



Mab. On the "humpback" (J/, versahilis), sessile on the Coronulce 

 which infest that species, but never, so far as I have observed, on the 

 surface of the whale itself. 



Dr. Leach describes five calcareous pieces, namely the scuta, terga, 

 and rostrum, in the typical species ( 0. Cuvieri, Leach) ; and they are 

 figured by Reeve ; but this species has certainly only the scuta. 

 Whether this difi'erence is of more than specific value I am not able 

 to decide, owing to the great paucity of works of reference here. I 

 should be unwilling to describe the species, were it not that it was 

 submitted to the late lamented Dr. Stimpson for examination, and 

 was pronounced by him to be new. 



A variety, or perhaps another form, was observed by me in Behring 

 Strait in 1865, which was blotched all over with rose-pink, and had 

 the scuta narrower and more slender ; it was also smaller than the 

 specimens before me ; but as it is not at hand, I am unable to decide 

 with certainty. 



I am indebted to Capt. C. M. Scammon and R. E. C. Stearns, Esq., 

 for specimens and facilities furnished in the preparation of this pajjer. 

 Most of the specimens were collected by the former gentleman, and 

 will be figured in his forthcoming monograph of the Cetaceans of the 

 N.W. Coast. — Proceedinqs of the California Academy of Sciences, 

 Dec. 18, 1872. 



