DR. J. MURIE ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CAAING WHALE. 253 
and between it and the gums, there is a smooth shallow gutter an inch broad. The 
anterior third of the mid palate is coriaceous, rough, and bestrewed with hardened, 
closely placed papille, which are arranged in irregular linear rows. In the median line, 
however, this rough patch is longitudinally bisected by a narrow shallow sulcus, which 
is lost behind in the smoother palate; but anteriorly it sinks deeply between the pre- 
maxillary bones, and there its edges are firmly adherent to the periosteum. Quite at the 
back of the palate, or faucial portion, there is a smooth whitish-coloured area narrowest 
forwards ; and on either side of this are numerous openings of muciparous ducts. 
en The last left lower 
tooth was very small. The mandibular teeth increased im size from the first to the 
sixth, again decreasing in magnitude posteriorly ; nearly the same ratio obtained in 
those of the upper jaw, where the teeth are less curved. I noted that the sixth tooth 
of the mandible, the largest in the series, had an eleyation of 0-4 inch above the gum, 
and the final one of the same row but 0:15 inch. ‘The superior maxillary teeth were set 
with tips recurved, and inwards and downwards; the mandibular series agreed as to 
postero-inward inclination. ‘The length of the lower dental row was 6 and 64, and of 
the upper 5} and 53 inches respectively. The conical teeth were implanted in deep 
sockets, but nevertheless they possessed a certain amount of mobility when pressed 
laterally by the hand. ‘This slight looseness, even in adolescence, may account for 
individuals, both young and old, losing them, as authorities record. 
The mucous membrane of the gums is continuous with the palatine tissues, but is 
lighter coloured. It embraces the necks of the teeth circularly, and runs between 
each dental interspace as a longitudinal ridge. Outside the gums and teeth, or labially, 
the membrane returns to its dark colour, and intensifies as it approaches the jet-black 
surface of the skin of the body. The portion which corresponds to the upper lip slopes 
gradually downwards and outwards, so as to form an eave or firm overhanging arch. 
This is deepest behind at the angle of the mouth, and becomes by degrees less so, until 
anteriorly reaching what represents the frenum labii superioris, where it is but very 
slightly elevated above the palate. The maxillary labial border projects sufficiently to 
overlap and partially hide the mandibular one, when the mouth is closed. 
The inner surface of the lower jaw shelves rather abruptly downwards. It is narrow 
and dark-coloured, towards the teeth inwardly smooth, from that rough as far back as 
the teeth go. The gingival membrane, like the maxillary arch, is light-hued and rises 
round the dental necks. So suddenly and perpendicularly does the outer smooth and 
jet-black mandibular surface rise, that there is no defined lower lip or ridge whatsoever. 
There is no clearly marked dependent uvula'; but the posterior pillars of the fauces 
prominently arch over the root of the tongue by the great thick palato-glossus. When 
the mouth is fully agape, the loose folds of the mucous membrane form lateral segments 
of arches, the middle or keystone dividing these by short, somewhat longitudinal, 
* A condition likewise mentioned by Professor Macalister, P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 478. 
202 
The dental formula in this specimen may be expressed by 
