28 GILPIX PORPOISES AND DOLPHINS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



flowed from them. In colour, the entire upper parts, including 

 edge of lower lip, fore fin, dorsal and caudal fins were beautiful 

 shining black. This black emarginating the lower lip, and passing 

 through the fore fin ran irregularly to the tail. Below this, pure 

 white shaded at the junction of the colour by ashy grey, which grey 

 also appeared in irregular patches upon the belly. In others that I 

 observed afterwards the black line was less distinct, and large 

 greyish patches above the shoulder. These last answer to the 

 colouring in Jardine's Nat. Library. The young beside the mother 

 was about three feet long, or two-fifths the size of herself. The 

 whole figure just out of water — the skin soft, yet glittering — its 

 symmetrical rotundity — its beautiful black and pearly white — its 

 arched forehead and emarginated lower lip, with its appearance 

 of strength, mingled with flexibility, strike you at once. A recent 

 skull measured : 



From occiput to tip of nose 9£ inches. 



Greatest width of maxilla bones 5 " 



As usual in this order, the os frontis was nearly covered by 

 the maxilla bones, its superior surface thrown up into high ridges, 

 the nasal bones, two knobs posterior to the spouting holes, and the 

 intermaxilla bones forming two irregular cubes directly in front of 

 these holes, instead of the plane concave surface found in other 

 genera of this order. The palate was broad and flat, and formed 

 by the maxilla bones, the intermaxillas, and a small portion of the 

 vomer. The teeth were on upper jaw, about twenty-two or three 

 on either side, and in lower jaw about the same. They were con- 

 tracted at the root, but broad and trenchant at the edge. The 

 number is given as an approximation. There was no alveola 

 process — no teeth at either commissure, and teeth were held in a 

 thick mucous membrane, rather than in an alveola process. 



In a recent skeleton of one three feet and one-half long, exam- 

 ined in July, 1875, the sternum was of one piece, but hollowed on 

 one side of the interior surface. The ribs were fourteen, one pair 

 so small as almost to escape notice. Eight were articulated to the 

 sternum by a cartilage longer or shorter, and all these eight had a 



