OF TUE TENTH EDITION OF LIXN.EUS. 157 



Genus 38. Physeter. p. 76. 



Four species nominally, but all prove to be the Sperm Whale, 

 so that the genus is really monotypic. 



Species : 



1. CATODON. p. 76. Physeter. 



Linnean reference : Syst. Nat. p. 39, no. 1 (of Catodon, not 

 Physeter), where there is a reference to the " Catodon 

 Ustula in rostro " of Artedi(Syn. p. 108), by whom in tui'n 

 Ray and Sibbald are quoted. • 



Ray's account is abbreviated from that of Sibbald, whose 

 Balaena minor *, fi'om Kairston, Orkneys, is the real basis of the 

 name. 



This animal has been said by some authoi'S to be the Beluga, 

 and by others the Sperm Whale, and after a careful consi<leration 

 oi: the question, with the kind and highly opportune assistance 

 of Dr. Einar Lonnberg, I am decidedly of opinion that it was the 

 latter species. 



The absence of teeth in the upper jaw is a definite character, to 

 which much weight should be attached ; while the fact that females 

 of the Sperm Whale go together in schools would account for the 

 large number (105) stranded at Kairston, and their comparatively 

 small size (24 feet). 



As a consequence, the Sperm Whale should bear the name 

 of Physeter catodon L., of which the next name would be a 

 synonym. 



Type locality : Kairston, Orkneys. 



2. MACROOEPHALUS. p. 76. Physeter. 



Linnean references: Faun. Suec. no. 262; Syst. ISTat. (6) 

 p. 39, no. 2 (of Catodon). 

 Sperm Whale {Physeter catodmi, see above). 

 Type locality : JSTorwegian seas. 



3. MICROPS. p. 76. [Physeter.) 



Linnean reference : Syst. ISTat. (6) p. 39, no. 1 (of Physeter), 

 where Artedi (Syn. 104, Gen. 74) is alone quoted, 



4. TURSIO. p. 77. {Physeter,) 



Linnean reference : Syst. Nat. (6) p. 39, no. 2 (of Physeter), 



where Artedi (Syn. 104, Gen. 74) is alone quoted. 



These two names refer to the mythical " High-finned Cachalot," 



whose origin no doubt lies in faulty observation of ordinary 



Cachalots, and they may be considered as synonyms of Physeter 



catodon. 



* ' Phalaiiuilogia nova.' Caput ii. p. -li. 



