1865.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE WHALES OF THE CAPE. 357 
3. Notes oN THE WHALES OF THE Cape; By E. L. Layarp, 
Esa., or Care-Town, Corr. Mems. Wits Descriptions 
or Two New Srecises; sy Dr. J. E. Gray. 
Mr. E. Layard, the Keeper of the South African Museum at 
Cape-Town, has most kindly sent me descriptions and drawings, 
made by Mr. Trimen, of the skulls of the Cetacea contained in that 
museum. Amongst these is the drawing of a Porpoise or Grampus 
taken in Kalk Bay (Simon’s Bay). Unfortunately the skull of this 
animal was placed in the skin during Mr. Layard’s absence from the 
Cape ; so that it cannot be got at for description ; but, from what he 
saw of the dentition, he believes it is like a Grampus—very like the 
figure of the skull of G. cuvierii in the ‘ Catalogue of Cetacea in the 
Collection of the British Museum,’ t. 5. f. 1. He says that there is 
a separate skull, greatly resembling that figure, in the South African 
Museum. 
The Grampus (?) prepared with the skull in the skin, mentioned 
above, is represented as having a rounded head, without any appear- 
ance of a beak. ‘It is entirely deep brown black ; the skin smooth, 
with a few wrinkles behind the chin and on the front edge of the 
pectoral fin. 
‘‘ The entire length, from the nose to the end of the tail, 8 feet ; 
from the nose to the front base of the dorsal fin, along the curve, 
3 feet 9 inches; of the dorsal, 10 inches; of the back, from the 
hinder edge of the dorsal fin to the end of the tail, 3 feet 10 inches ; 
width of the tail, 1 foot 11 inches. ; 
“‘ Length from the front of the mouth to the base of the pectoral, 
1 foot 55 inches ; of the upper edge of the pectoral, 1 foot 5 inches.” 
In the South African Museum are two smaller skulls from the 
coast of the Cape,—one apparently of a Steno, with % teeth; and 
the other of a Delphinus, probably the common one of Table Bay, 
which has teeth. 
2 
These are probably new species, to be described. 
Mr. Layard observes, ‘‘ These Cetaceans are constantly in the Bay ; 
but I cannot get the fishermen, who catch plenty of the Delphinus, 
to bring them to the museum. I have offered the market value, be- 
sides all the flesh and the blubber ; but they are so prized as food by 
the men that they are cut up instantly and sold by auction.” 
«Two, if not more, species of Whales come into our bays to calve. 
I have never been fortunate enough to see them entire; but, from 
the remains, I think them to be the “ Right Whale” (Balena) and 
Humpback (Megaptera). By the way, do you know the meaning 
of Peskop? The Dutch are the dirtiest-minded people I ever met 
with: they have heaps of such names for their animals and plants.” 
“I have seen off the coast several species of Whale (one near 
Agulhas) with an enormous elongated back-fin; which could it be? 
They are in sight for an hour at least.” 
**T send you a drawing, by our friend Mr. Trimen, of the skull of 
a Cetacean which I have taken to be a Ziphius, probably a very old 
Ziphius sechellensis; but the figure in your ‘ Catalogue of the Ce- 
