M 



The largest of these pelvic bones iu our Botauy wliale, is 

 curved somewhat like a rib, convex on one side, concave on the 

 other, broader at one extremity, and at the other hooked back 

 towards the convex side. The smaller bone, which perhaps 

 answers to the ossilium ia more perfect mammals, is sub-cylin- 

 drical, somewhat curved and thicker at the base than at the 

 extremity.* It is not unlike the corresponding bono in the 

 pelvis of the Southern true whale, but is comparatively shorter 

 and less slender. The dimensions of the bones are as follow : — 



1st Bone — Length 



Breadth at base 



Ditto at middle 



Ditto at point 



Thickness at middle. 



Thickness at hook.... 

 2nd Bone — Length 



Greatest breadth .... 



Still the subject of the pelvis in the geuus Gatoclon obviously 

 requires further elucidation by means of more perfect specimens. 

 And here, I may remark, that it would be of great service to the 

 promotion of natural science if the officers of whaling vessels, 

 and persons having opportunities along the coast of Australia, 

 would forward to our Musuem specimens of the Ceiacea of the 

 Pacific Ocean, or their bones. It is indeed rather discreditable 

 that our Colonial collection should not be in possession of any 

 specimen of the common porpoise of Port Jackson (if it be a 

 porpoise), or of the dugong of our north-eastern shores. The 

 last deficiency is the more tantalizing, as although there is said 



* In page 88 of Beale, he mentions a bone of his Yorkshire whale, which 

 from its shape, I should imagine to be the same as this, but it is 

 times the length, and he assigns to it a quite different use. 



