1864.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON BRITISH CETACEA. 199 
the fear that one may be giving two names, one characterized by the 
ear-bone, and the other by the baleen of the same animal, and vice 
versd. 
Yet I think it is so important that we should avail ourselves of 
every assistance in determining the species of these animals which 
are so difficult to observe, that one must run the risk of making 
such a mistake, as it can easily be corrected when the opportunity 
occurs to some competent naturalist to examine a specimen containing 
both the baleen and the ear-bones. 
Professor Owen, in the ‘ Hist. Brit. Fossil Mammals,’ has named 
and figured the ear-bones of the genus Balena, which have been ob- 
served in the Crag; he has named them as if he regarded the follow- 
ing as distinct species :—1. Balena affinis, fig. 221; 2. B. definita, 
fig. 222; 3. B. gibbosa, fig. 223; 4. B. emarginata, fig. 224. 
These bones are all very imperfect, and the figures of the two latter 
are not sufficient even to decide whether they belong to the genus 
Balena or to Physalus. 
1. BALzZNA. 
Skull high and contracted behind ; the frontal very narrow, mar- 
ginal, directed backwards ; tympanic bone rhombic, large ; orbits 
small (see Cuvier, Oss. Foss. v. t. 25. f. 9, 10,11). Baleen tough, 
flexible ; enamel thick ; internal fibres few, very slender, forming 
a beautiful thin flaccid fringe. Cervical and the first dorsal verte- 
bre united by their bodies (see Cuv. Oss. Foss. v. p. 380, t. 26.f. 18). 
Blade-bone much higher than broad, with a broad acromium (Cuyv. 
t. 26. f.8). Pelvis of three bones (Cuy. t. 26. f. 25). 
Head about one-third of the entire length. The frontal bone 
short, broad, and band-like, obliquely truncated over the orbit. 
The upper maxillary bone and intermaxillaries are very narrow, linear. 
The nasal rather large. The lower jaw is thick and rounded, with 
scarcely any ramus near the base (Eschr. & Reinh. Nord. Hvaler, t. 5. 
f. 1). The pectoral fin moderate, with five short unequal fingers, 
and a short spur on the inner side at the base of the first finger ; 
the middle finger longest, then the second, then the first ; the outer 
or little finger very short and rudimentary (see Eschr. & Reinh. op. 
cit. t. 2. f. 1, & fig. p. 578). 
The five first cervical vertebree are united into a mass by the bodies; 
the sixth free, with rudimentary inferior lateral processes ; the seventh 
free, without any inferior process (see Eschr. & Reinh. op. cit. t. 2. 
f. 3). 
The bladebone three-sided, nearly equal-sided, with a small ante- 
rior coracoid process (see Eschr. & Reinh. op. cit. t. 2. f. 1, & fig. 
p- 574). 
BaLm{na Mysticetus. The Right Whale. 
Balena mysticetus, Linn.; Gray, Zool. E. & T. 15, 47, t.1. f. 4 
(baleen) ; Cat. Cetacea, B.M. 12, 1850; Bell, B. Quad. 514. fig. ; 
Nilsson, Scand. Fauna, 642; Turton, B. Fauna, 15; Fleming, B. A. 
33; Jenyns, Man. 46. 
