ODO>*TOC(ETI. 



)69 



Griilf, aucl Van Beuedeu is iuelined to regard this form as distinct. 

 A skull of M. hoops from Java is, however, in the Le_ydeu Museum. 

 A whale some years siuce (July 1873) was eutaugled in the 

 telegraph-cable off the Baluchistan coast and drowned. The tail 

 was covered with barnacles (Cirripeds), and this, as Van Benedeu 

 ])oints out, is characteristic of J\le[/aptera. I myself once saw a 

 whale of much stouter form than Balcenoidera, under favourable 

 circumstances, a great part of the body being above the sea at 

 times, off the mouth of the Indus. Grray (Cat. Seals and Whales 



Fig. 184. — Humpbacked Whale, Mcgapfera boopg. (Flower, ai-t. " Whale," 

 ' Encyclopedia Britannica.') 



B. M. 1866, p. 131) refers an imperfect skeleton in the Asiatic 

 Society's collection at Calcutta to this genus, but on evidence that 

 is scarcely convincing. 



The accompanying figure of J/, hoops may assist in the recog- 

 nition of the jjeuus. 



Suborder ODONTOCCETI. 



Teeth always present in one or both jaws after birth. JVo 

 baleen. Upper surface of skull asymmetrical. Rami of mandible 

 nearly straight, meeting distally in a true symphysis. Several of 

 the anterior ribs articulate with the bodies of the vertebrtc, and 

 several pairs are connected with the sternum by sternal ribs. 

 Manus always pentadactylous. Xostrils united into a single ex- 

 ternal orifice. No caecum, except in Platanista. 



Three families compose this suborder; all are found in Indian 

 seas or rivers. They are distinguished as follows : — 



A. Functional teeth in the lower jaw only Physeteridas. 



B. Functional teeth in both jaws (upper teeth deci- 



duous in Grampus). 



a. Ribs abnormally articulated. Symphysis of man- 



dible never exceedino; i length of ramus Delphinidae. 



b. Ribs normally articulated. Mandibular sym- 



physis I length of ramus Platanistidae. 



