Haast.—On a new genus of Ziphioid Whale. 455- 
0:25 inch above the edge of the ramus, that alveolar cavity is much more 
bulged out, and has a different form from the first (or female?) skull 
described. The apex of the tooth was distinctly visible, and seemed to 
have already pierced the gums when the animal was alive. 
The row of teeth in the upper jaw, which have the same form as in the 
skull No. 2, are, however, smaller and somewhat slenderer. They begin 
likewise above the posterior end of the alveolar cavity. There are, as in 
the preceding skull, seventeen teeth on each side, occupying a length of 
2-48 inches. They stand more closely together than in the supposed female 
skull, No. 1, thus also agreeing with the second skull in that respect. 
In Vol. VI., p. 86, of the ** Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," 
Dr. Hector describes the lower jaw of Oulodon under the title, ** Notice of 
a variation in the dentition of Mesoplodon hectori (Gray).” 
It is diffieult for me to conceive by what process the tooth in the lower 
jaw, which in Mesoplodon hectori stands at the anterior end of the ramus, 
could have travelled as far backwards as to stand now opposite the posterior 
edge of the symphysis. Hitherto I have believed that the position of the 
mandibular teeth was constant and a valuable specific character—an 
opinion which, as far as I am aware, is held by the most eminent 
Cetologists, and which the observations I was able to make on the three 
skulls under review amply confirms. Mereover, I wish to add that a com- 
parison of these three skulls of Oulodon with the skull of Mesoplodon hectori 
(Gray), in the Canterbury Museum, and whieh is derived from an aged 
specimen, shows at a glance the distinct specific character, besides being 
much smaller in all its proportious. 
We are only at the beginning of the study of our Ziphioid Whales, and 
I have no doubt that, year by year, new material will come to hand, so 
that by the lumping of two distinct species into one, as attempted by Dr. 
Hector, and for which no tangible reason can be assigned, only confusion 
will be created. 
Finally, I wish to propose to add to this new cetacean the specific name of 
Grayi, in memory of the late Dr. J. E. Gray, to whom New Zealand is so 
much indebted for his contributions towards the better knowledge of its 
natural history. 
Conclusion. 
In summing up the evidence which these three skulls under review pre- 
sents to us the following points may be accepted as fully established :— 
1. That there exists & genus of Ziphioid Whales in the New Zealand 
seas, which possesses a mandibular tooth at the posterior edge of the symphy- 
sis, either hidden below the gums or standing conspicuously above them, 
according to age or sex. 
