238 



DE. J. MUEIB ON THE ORGANIZATION OP THE CAAING WHALE. 



II. The Caaing or Pilot Whale's External Characters. 

 All observers more or less coincide in describing the colour of Glohiceps as deep 

 black (hence Traill's specific name melas^), excepting a partial whitish streak on the 



free. In their magnificent ' Oateographie des Cetace's' (pis. .51 & 52), Gervais and Van Beneden figure the 

 skeleton of this species, and skulls &c. of others of the genus. See also Gray and other authorities. 



Inferior side and partially posterior aspect of the cervical and a few of the anterior dor.sal vertebras and 

 segments of ribs of the Caaing Whale {Cf. melas), demonstrating ligamentous structures. 



D, dorsal and c, cervical vertebras; 1, 2, 3, the ribs iu succession; an, anterior nuchal or forward termination of the anterior 

 common ligament of spine; a.c.v, anterior oosto-vertebral or stellate ligaments; ct, coslo-transverse ligament; z, interver- 

 tebral cartilage ; ar, articular surface or capitular facet ; t, transverse process ; ~, zygapophysial facet ; v, neural spine. 



As more intimately related to the skeleton than to the myology, I have shifted to this place the illustration 

 and few words I have to say regarding some of the ligaments. The woodcut is itself explanatory, and designed 

 to show a dissection I made of the costal ligamentous unions. The anterior nuchal Ugament, besides some 

 longitudinal fibres, ha.s more notably a strong oblique band, which passes from the body of the first dorsal to 

 the united axis and atlas, lying upon the surface of the compressed posterior cervicals. This is partly a con- 

 tinuation of the anterior common ligament of the spine, but, moreover, may be representative of or include the 

 so-called anterior atlanto-axial ligament of Man. Each rib is lashed to the vertebrfE by a long, uncommonly 

 strong, but yielding, anterior costo-vertcbral or stellate ligament. This has only a partial trifid division, which 

 is spread both on the ventral surface and side of the vertebral body, and on the adjoining intervertebral cartilage. 

 It is likewise very firmly fastened over the head of the rib. Between the capituliim and vertebral facet is an 

 intervening pad of cartilage. The costo-transverse ligament has its thickest set of fibres beneath ; and the first 

 rib has its due share of these. This articulation in aU the ribs is simple in its nature. The dorsal intervertebral 

 cartilages are dense ; in the neck they are reduced to thin laminae ; but the latter I was not at liberty to investi- 

 gate with accuracy. 



Professors Van Beneden, of Louvaiu, and Struthcrs, of Aberdeen, in their dissections of Balcenoptem nms- 

 culus (memoii-s already cited), have each briefly indicated some interesting points elucidating the cervico- 

 dorsal, first rib, and sterno-costal articulations of that species. 



' His original diagnosis runs : — " Corpore crasso, nigro : pinna dorsali una brevi : pinnis pectoraHbus longis, 



