106 BALJSNOPTERID^. 



I have ventured to make these fragments of an animal (as they 

 may be called) into a genus ; for I think we can only study the 

 gigantic whales as we study fossOs, from the parts which are pre- 

 served to us. It is to be hoped that at some future time more 

 perfect skeletons wiU be collected and preserved, and then the 

 description of the genus will be filled up. 



6. PAL.a:OCETUS. 



Atlas free. The second cervical vertebra with a prominent 

 rounded lateral process with a small basal perforation. The third 



to fifth cervical with . 



Paleocetus, Seeley, Geol. Joum. 1865. 



This genus, in the form of the lateral process of the atlas or second 

 cervical vertebra, has some resemblance to the Knner Whales (Ba- 

 loenopteridce). It is probable that when it is better known it wiU 

 form a family (JPalceocetidce), to be placed between Balcenidce and 

 BalcenopteiidcB. — See also Professor Owen, Brit. Foss. Mamm. pp. xv 

 & 520 ; Palaeontology, p. 355, 



1. PalsBOcetus Sedgwickii. 



Paleocetus Sedgwickii, Seeley, Geol. Joum. 1866, tab. f. 1, 2. 

 Fossil in the Crag. The cervical vertebra, Wbodwardian Museum, 

 Cambridge. 



Family 2. BAL.fflNOPTERID^. 



Dorsal fin distinct. Belly longitudinally plaited. Baleen short 

 and broad, triangular, twisted. Maxillary bones broad, expanded, 

 sharp-edged. Tympanic bone oblong or ovate. Frontal bone flat, 

 expanded, broad over the orbit ; orbit large. Pectoral fin lanceolate ; 

 fingers 4. Vertebrse of neck free, or some rarely anchylosed. Sca- 

 pula broader than high, with or without a coracoid. The lateral 

 process of the axis or second cervical vertebra produced, ring-like, 

 with a basal perforation. The ring is not completely ossified until 

 adult age, so that the skeleton sometimes presents two short pro- 

 cesses more or less encircling a basal aperture. 



Balsenoptera, Lac^p. CMac. 



Mysticetua, WagUr, Syst. Amph. 



Eorqualus, F. Cuvier, CUac. 



Balsenidss (bO, Gray, Cat. Cetac. B. M. 



F'inne-flach, Balaenoptera, Schkgel, Ahhandl. 1841, 38. 



BatonopteridiB, Gray, P. Z. S. 1864; Ann. Sf Mag. N. II. 1864, xiv. 

 " The head less than one-fourth of the total length of the body. 

 A dorsal fin. Skin of the under surface of the throat and chest pro- 

 vided with numerous parallel longitudinal furrows. The bones of 

 the cranium very slightly arched. The rostrum broad at the base, 

 gradually tapering, depressed. The orbital processes of the frontal 

 moderately prolonged, broad, and flat on the upper surface. Tym- 

 panic bones elongated, ovoid. The coronoid process of the lower jaw 



