BY H. H. SCOTT AND CUVE E. LORD. • 25 



exaetly establish the exact generic and specific characters 

 of the ziphoid whales in general. It may be taken foi" 

 granted, liowever, that representatives of such genera as 

 ZipJiiiis, Hi/peroodo'ii, Mesoplodun, and Bernrdius visit 

 Tasmanian seas, but probably only at rare intervals . 

 Owing to the rugged nature of oiir coasts and the failure 

 to rejDort stranded whales to the proper authorities, it is 

 only on vei'y rare occasions that specimens are obtained 

 for scientific investigation. 



HISTORY OF THE TASMANIAN MUSEUM SPECI- 

 MEN OF ZIPHIU.S GAVIROSTRIS. (TAS. MUS. 

 REG. NO. D 589.) 



When the revision of the basement stores of the 

 MuseiuTi took place (previously alluded tO' in Part I. of 

 this series) this skull was brought to light. At a later 

 stage the mandible also was found. Fortunately, the re- 

 cords relating to the specimens could be traced, and the 

 following facts show the locality and date whence the skull 

 was ohtained. 



The Museum records show that this skull (classified as 

 Epiodon cliathamensis) was presented by J. Boyd, Esq., in 

 1868. It was obtained at Port Arthur (on the South- 

 East Coast of TaS'mania). Apparent!}^ the specimen has 

 been stored away for fifty years, and the knowledge of 

 this species" occurrence in Australian seas withheld from 

 the scientific world for a corresponding period. 



OSTEOLOGY. 



SJ^ulJ. 



Before attempting to discuss the osteology of this speci- 

 men, it is nece?®ary to iDomt out a homological error that 

 the late Sir Julias Von Haast fell into, in his paper on 

 Epiodon Xova'-Zealandice ^''*, which is a synonym of 

 Zipliiuii car iros.tr is, as already pointed out. This pub- 

 lished statement of Von Haast's has been copied by otheB* 

 authors, without cjuestion, and, therefore, it is necessary 

 to correct it, the more so as he cited Prof. Owen as his 

 authority, while Owen's writings do not substantiate, and, 



(7a) Trans. N.Z. Institute. Vol. 9, p. im. 



(7b) In connection with the New Zealand specimen of Ziphiuf: 

 cavirostris in the Canterbury Museum, we desire to express our thanki 

 to Mr. R. Speight, the Curator of that Inslit."tioii. In order to assist 

 us with the comparative osteplo.sy, Mr. Speight had several excellent 

 photographs taken for our benefit. These were of material assistance 

 to us, and we, therefore, have i)leasure in placing on record our appre- 

 ciation of Mr. Speight's action in this matter. 



