Hzcron.— Notes on the Whales of the New Zealand Seas. 831 
Art. XLV.—Notes on the Whales of ihe New Zealand Seas. 
By James Hecror, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S. 
Plates XVI. and XVII. 
> [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 12th January, 1878.] 
Havine lately had an opportunity of examining various type specimens of 
our Cetaceans in the European museums, and of consulting important books 
of reference on this branch of our zoology, especially the magnificent work 
of Professors Van Beneden and Gervais,* I am enabled to offer a few 
critical notes on some of the species in continuation of my former papers to 
the Society,} and in anticipation of a complete review of the species now. 
described from New Zealand, showing the present state of our knowledge 
on this subject. 
1. NEOBALENA MARGINATA. 
Neobalena marginata, Gray; Supp. Cat. Seals and Whales, p. 41; Hector, 
Trans. N.Z. Inst., IL, 26, (skull) ; V., pl. 6 (ear-bones); VIL, 251, pl. 
17 (external form and complete skeleton). 
This species having by one author] been treated as a synonym of 
Eubalena australis, or the black whale, I have compared the skeletons of 
young individuals, as I presume that, from its small size, it has been taken 
for the young of the latter species. 
Only three examples of Neobalena are known :— 
a. The original type from Kawau Island, presented to the Colonial 
Museum by Sir George Grey, and of which only the skull was preserved, 
measuring 57 § inches in length. This is the largest specimen yet met 
with, and the proportionate length of the animal would be 20 feet. 
b. A complete skeleton 14 feet 6 inches long, obtained ||by Mr. Charles 
Trail on Stewart Island, and now in the British Museum, and of which 
the skull measures 41 inches. 
c. Skull of a very young individual in the Auckland Museum, measuring 
35 inches.‘ 
In each of these specimens the baleen is present with the characteristic 
elongated form, fine texture, and yellow colour with a black margin, and 
the other details of the skull and form of the ear-bones also agree closely, 
“exhibiting only differences of growth. 
* Ostéographie des Cétacés vivants et fossiles: 4to., with atlas of plates, folio. Paris. 
13 parts published. 
t Trans. : Z. dee IE, 26; IIL, 128; V., 154; Vi, 86; VIL, 251; IX., 477. 
1 A. W. Scot A., Mammalia, recent and extinct —Section PINNATA. I 1873. 
$ ee N.Z. Inst., IL, 26. - || Trans. N.Z. Inst., VIL, 268 
*| Trans. N.Z. Inst., VIL., 251. 
