126 



anxiously looked for) could be detected, but upon a careful dissection, 

 Ojiid 2>i'S'i^'^ous to maceratio7i, the tooth (Plate XYII.^ fig. 3 b) now before the 

 Society was found ; its twin brother still remains in its obscurity on the right 

 ramus of the lower jaw. 



From the appearance of the teeth, I am inclined to think that they never 

 cut or appear above the gum, and the scientific enquirer will naturally ask of 

 ■what use cou.id they be to the animal 1 This is triily a profound question, and 

 cariies us into the mysteries of types and first causes. The tooth, it will be 

 observed, is of the form of a compressed cone ; the apex is finely pointed 

 (not worn), and was found playing in a cavit}^, resembling a socket, in the 

 jaw. The tooth is still covered to within about the eighth of an inch with an 

 investure of cartilaginous tissue, but as I intend to carry out my investigation 

 of not only this remarkable tooth, but also those of other Cetaceans, including , 

 the teeth of the sperm whale, I shall close my present remarks by stating, that 

 from careful examination of the specimens which came under my notice, the 

 food on which these animals subsist is the cuttle-fish ; and these concealed 

 teeth, although not answering the purpose of securing, killing, or grinding, 

 •would yet give a severe pinch to such soft-bodied animals. 



I subjoin tables of weights and measurements so far as could be 

 procured : — 



No. 1. Killed in Porirua Harbour, January, 1862. 



(Plate XIIL, fig. 1.) 



Total weight (supposed) . 5 tons. 



Measurements. 



Total length 



Greatest circumference 



Tail, from tip to tip 



Head — length of basal surface 



„ height . 



„ breadth across occiput 



,, length of lower jaw 

 Length of pectoral extremity, free 

 Produce of fine sperm oil, about 240 gallons ; spermaceti, a considerable 

 quantity on the upper surface of the face.. 



ft. 



27 



in. 

 



14 







7 







4 



4 



2 



2 



2 







3 



10 



3 







No. 2. Killed in Titai Bay, Cook's Strait, January, 1866. 



Total length 



. 9 



3 



Greatest circumference 



. 5 



2 



Head — from tip of jaw to nostrils 



. 1 



5 



jj )) jj J5 ®y® 



1 



5 



» :, „ „ gape . 



• 



9 



