24 STUDIES OF TASMANIAN CETACEA, 



This skull was obtained from the Tasmanian Coast. 

 This fact isi of interest, for, althotigh the species under 

 review hasi on several occasions been recorded from New 

 Zealand, (2) ^e are aware of no previous record from 

 Australian seas. It is an unfortunate fact that the Tas- 

 manian. skull has been stored away for many years with- 

 out any reference being made to it. In the latest work 

 dealing with zoogeography ^3) the following reference ta 

 this spe)cies occurs. In dealing with the mammals of the 

 North Atlantic : — 



" Cuvier's beaked whale {Ziphius cavirostris),. 

 " although but seldom met with, appears to be 

 " of world-wide distribution. It is distinguished 

 '^by the two conical teeth at the tip of the lower 

 " jaw, as well as by the circumstance that only 

 " the first three vertebrte of the neck are fused 

 ■' together." ^4) 

 And in dealing with the Indo-Pacific and its shores : — 

 " Cuvier's beaked whale (Zrphius cuvieri) is also 

 " probably an inhabitant of the Indo-Pacific." (5a> 

 There can be no doubt that the sanie species is in- 

 tended, but it is unfortunate that the nomenclature should 

 not agree, even in the same work, for this cetacean. The 

 synonymy is sufficiently involved without such additions 

 as these. Another point to be noticed is that the anky- 

 losis of the first three cervical vertebra mentioned by 

 Lydekker is not a constant feature for this species. It 

 probably varies with age. 



Dr. S. F. Harmer has recently given an account *5b) of 

 Z/phius cavirostris from the Irish Coast, and also stated his 

 intention of publiHihing a further account, but Ave are not 

 aware if this has yet appeared. In dealing with the dis- 

 tribution of Ziphius he states that the best available evi- 

 dence "leads to the conclusion that Ziphins rnvirofitris is 

 " a cosmopolitan species which inhabits the open oceans 

 " of the world, and is occasionally stranded. ' 



True has recorded (6) where more than three of the 

 cervical vertebrae have been ankylosed. Except in such 

 instances as Hyperoodoii, where all the cervical vertebrae 

 are ankylosed, the fusing of more or less of the cervicals 

 does not appear to be a generic constant. 



Considerable research has yet to be done in order to 



(2) For instance, see Trans. N.Z. Institute. Vol. 9. 



(3) Lydekker, Wild Life of the World. 



(4) Lydekker, Wild Life of the World, Vol. II., p. 246. 

 (5a) I'J.. Vol. III., p. 327. 



(5b) Proc. Zoo. Soc. of London, 1915, p. 559. 



(6) True, Bulletin 73, U.S. Nat. Mus., p. 3S (1910). 



