90 Transactions. — Zoology/. 



Art. X-YlL^—jyotice of the, Skeleton of the Neio Zealand Riglit Whale 

 (Mcicleayius australiensis). 



By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z.Inst. 

 Plates XYI, XVII. 

 [Read hefore the Wellington Philosophical Society, 6th August, 1873.] 

 Dr. Haast lias sent to England tlie skeleton of a whale from the 

 coast of New Zealand. This skeleton is now in the collection of tlie 

 British Museum. When first imported it was believed to be the New 

 Zealandic whale, which I described and figured in Dr. Dieffenbach's " Yoyage" 

 under the name of Balcena antipodarum, which has been formed into the genus 

 Gaperea^ on account of the peculiar shape of its ear bones. The examination of 

 the ear bones at once showed that it was not that species, and proved that 

 there were two Right Whales inhabiting the coast of New Zealand. The 

 ear bone is so similar to those of Euhalcena australis, said to come from South 

 Africa, in the British Museum, that it seemed as though it might be a specimen 

 of that species, showing that it was common to the Cape of Good Hope and 

 New Zealand. The examination, however, of the mass formed by the cervical 

 vertebi-se, and the form of the blade bone, showed that it was most distinct 

 from the New Zealand and the Cape Whale ; but it was soon apparent that 

 the mass of cervical vertebrse very much resembled a similar specimen in the 

 Australian Museum, at Sydney, of which Mr. Krefft had sent me four 

 photogTaphs, and which are copied in the " Catalogue of Seals and Whales " 

 (p. 105, figs. 10 and 11 ; and p. 372, figs. 74 and 75), and described under the 

 name of Macleayius australiensis. 



The specimen now received chiefly differs from the photographs in the 

 cervical vertebrae being much smaller but more complete, and in the lower 

 processes of the second vertebra being longer and rather tapering at the end ; 

 but this may depend upon the age of the specimen, as the end of the process in 

 this specimen is rugose, as if in progress of growth. I am, therefore, inclined 

 to consider it as a specimen of the same species, or genus at least. 



The specimen photographed by Mr. Krefft is much larger, and probably 

 much more adult than the one we have received from New Zealand, as shown 

 below : — 



Krefft. British Museum. 



Width of atlas ... ... ... about 25 inches, about 1 9 inches. 



,, lower processes of 2nd vertebra ,, 28-5 „ „ 19 ,, 



Height from base of atlas to top of crest ,,18 ,, ,, 15 ,, 



The total length of the vertebrae of the New Zealandic specimen, jilaced 

 close together, is 31 feet 6 inches. The length of the head 8 feet 6 inches, 



