Hectoe. — Notes on the Whales of the New Zealand Seas. 339 



respect witli the one under consideration, so that there is no doubt that the 

 presence or absence or relative position of the rudimentary teeth in the 

 ziphioid whales is a matter of no specific value, contrary to the assertion 

 of Dr. von Haast.* 



The three first cervicals only are anchylosed, as described by Prof. 

 Flower, but the neural arches of the posterior cervicals are complete and 

 not open, which is one point of difference between the two skeletons. 



The total number of vertebrae is 47, or one less than in the College of 

 Surgeons specimen, and yet extreme care was taken to secure the whole of 

 the small tail bones. There is also a slight difference in the number of 

 vertebrae in the regions of the spinal column, as described by Prof. Flower, 

 fi'om the skeleton now in the Colonial Museum, thus : — 



Flowee. Col. Mus. 



Cervicals .. .. 7 .. .. .. 7 



Dorsals .. .. 10 f .. .. .. 10 



Lumbars . . . . 12 . . . . . . 13 



Caudals with facets for chevrons 12 . . . . . . 10 



Tail proper .. .. 7 .. .. .. 7 



Only the six last chevron bones were present, being attached to the 

 36th-42nd vertebrae, and although the four preceding vertebra, 31st- 

 35th, have distinct htemal facets, none of the corresponding bony arches 

 were present. It is useful to note such discrepancies, as showing the 

 amount of individual variation which may exist in the same species. 



The number of phalanges in the digits of the manus, which Prof. Flower 

 suggests were imperfect in his specimen, are in my specimen L-1, II.-6, 

 III.-5, IV.-4, V.-3. 



9. Mesoplodon hectoei. 



Mesoplodon hectori, Gray ; Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., VIII., 117. 

 Plate XVII. 



It is very doubtful if this species should be separated from M. soiverhyi, 

 De BlainviUe, which seems to be subject to great variation in the position 

 and development of the mandibular teeth, the length and basal width of the 

 beak of the skull, and the presence or absence of a meso-rostral callosity. 

 There appear, however, to be two extreme forms in the New Zealand seas, 

 one representing the type of M. sowerhyi, of which the skull in the Canter- 

 bury Museum, which I formerly described as a variety of M. hectori,l is 

 probably an instance ; but a still more extreme form in the same direction 

 of development is found in a skull in the Otago Museum, of which I am 



* Trans. N.Z. Inst., IX., 455. 

 t Twelve thoracic vertebras are mentioned in the text, though elsewhere described as 

 ten, I.e., p. 226. 



+ Trans. N.Z, lust., Y., 168. 



