426 PEOF. W. F. FLOWER ON THE GENUS MESOPLODON. 



death can scarcely be determined now ; but Dr. v. Haast mentions that in his recent 

 specimens some of the teeth were " evidently worn down from use." The crowns of 

 the largest of these teeth are 4 millims. in length, projecting that distance above the 

 gum in its present dried state, though when recent they must have been covered to a 

 larger extent. Some teeth of an older individual (figured in P. Z. S. 1876, p. 10) are 

 somewhat larger. Their whole length, including crown and root, is 12 millims. or 

 half an inch, and their greatest thickness (in the part concealed by the gum) 2^ millims. 

 There is no evidence of the presence of any such teeth in M. australis or M. hectori; 

 and whether they were present or not in M. haasti I am not able to say, as the bones 

 were cleaned before they came into my possession. 



The genus Mesoplodon is characterized by possessing a single pair of compressed 

 mandibular teeth, which are usually .situated at about one third of the distance from 

 the apex of the mandible to the condyles, or opposite the hinder edge of the symphysis. 

 This is, in fact, their situation in all known species, except M. europceus and M. hectori; 

 and it is doubtful whether the fii'st should be con.sidered an exception ; for though the 

 teeth are situated further forward than in the others, relatively to the whole ramus of 

 the mandible, they have the same relation to the hinder border of the symphysis, which 

 appears (judging only by the published figure) to be shorter than in the other species. 

 The teeth of the different species appear to agree in their essential structure ', having 

 a small and pointed enamel-covered crown, composed of true dentine, which, instead of 

 surmounting a root of the ordinary character, is raised upon a solid mass of osteo- 

 dentine, the continuous growth of which greatly alters the form, and general appear- 

 ance of the organ as age advances, as seen most strikingly in the case of M. layardi. 



The changes that take place during growth in the mandibular teeth of M. grayi are 

 well exemplified in the difl'erent specimens described by Dr. v. Haast. In the young 

 male skeleton the apex of the tooth projects but a quarter of an inch above the level 

 of the alveolar margin, and is quite unworn. During life it was probably altogether 

 concealed beneath the gum, though the animal had attained three fourths of its 

 full dimensions. The apex is directed upwards and outwards. It lies in a special 

 expansion of the dental groove, which groove, it should be mentioned, continues to 

 exist, even in the aged animal, in a marked degree, along the whole upper border of 

 the dentary portion of the ramus. Although quite loose, it could not be removed to 

 examine its base until a portion of the bone had been cut away; yet in the old tooth, 

 which completely filled the socket, owing to the alteration of the form of the latter 

 this difliculty did not exist. 



When removed the tooth has a triangular form ; the apex, which is pointed and 

 somwhat everted, is covered with a thin layer of enamel, which extends to a greater 

 distance (?'. e. 13 millims.) in front and behind than at the sides (7 miUims.) The 



' See E. Ray Lankeater, Trans. Microsc. Soc, new series, vol. xv. 18G7, p. 55, and Trans. Zool. Soo. vol. viii. 

 p. 223. 



