390 DR. J. MURIE ON A DEFORMITY OF THE (Apr. 11, 
profound that I feel bound to call particular attention to these views, 
which substantially constitute objections to the taxonomic sugges- 
tions I have ventured to throw out. 
6. On Derormity or THE LoweR JAW IN THE CACHALOT 
(PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS, Linn.). By James Murie, 
M.D. 
The great length, the graceful elegance, and the beautiful sym- 
metry of the lower jaws, as well as the regularity of the teeth, of the 
common Cachalot, are often striking objects of admiration in our 
museums. Occasionally, however, these jaws are found deformed 
in a very curious manner, and in such a way as at first sight cannot 
readily be accounted for. 
With the exception of the short graphic account given by Mr. 
Beale in his ‘ Natural History of the Sperm Whale’ (1839, p. 36), 
I am not aware of any original description or observation on this 
anomalous condition ; and as three examples of a well-marked kind 
have fallen under my notice, I have considered it might not be un- 
interesting to examine, as far as the specimens have permitted, their 
exact condition, in order, if possible, to elucidate the cause of this 
abnormality. 
The first specimen I have to mention I saw when I was in New 
York a few years ago. I then paid a visit to the Museum in con- 
nexion with the United States Navy Yard at Brooklyn ; and among 
the various curiosities exhibited I observed the right moiety of the 
lower jaw of a Cachalot, which arrested my attention from its pecu- 
liar shape. I made inquiries concerning the specimen, but failed 
to obtain any history in connexion with it. 
The unusual form of this half of a lower jaw (of a comparatively 
speaking young animal) consisted in the symphysis and anterior half 
of the body being twisted at nearly right angles to the ordinary di- 
rection of the bone. The ramus was perfectly normal ; and the body 
from thence onwards to about its middle seemed quite natural. From 
this latter part, however, it took a quick curve outwards almost rec- 
tangularly, then with a second larger sweeping curve it bent itself 
somewhat backwards, and further on towards the anterior end of the 
symphysis it again recurved itself a short way forwards, not unlike 
the manner depicted in fig. 2, of a somewhat similar-sized jaw in the 
British Museum. 
The specimen, no. 2452, vol. ii. of the Physiological Series in 
the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons*, presented by 
Fred. D. Bennett, Esq., F.L.S., is described in the catalogue as 
« The right ramus of the lower jaw of a Physeter, the anterior part 
of which is curved strongly inwards and backwards, in consequence 
of some injury received in youth.” 
* My acknowledgments are due to the Museum Committee for permission to 
figure this most interesting object. 
