British Association. 1831 



several varying from 84 to 721t>s., and those from 30 to 60tbs. are 

 common. Breeds in the depth of winter, and hence the use of 

 the fat surrounding the ova. 1 have seen cases, though they are rare, 

 in which the ova have been as large as small peas. This rarity must 

 arise from the rapidity with which they are at last developed and 

 shed, after arriving at a certain age. Those fish living on dark, 

 rocky ground, are nearly black in colour, while those living on sandy 

 ground are of a pale brown. 



Mursena, Murcena Helena. This is not a Mount's Bay fish, but I 

 have seen a specimen taken at Polperro, and this is figured and de- 

 scribed by Mr. Yarrell in the ' British Fishes.' 



Morris, Leptocephalus, Morrisii. So frequently taken, that it can- 

 not be uncommon in deep water. 



R. Q. Couch. 

 Penzance. 



Seventeenth Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.* 

 The President, in opening the meeting, drew attention to the number of distin- 

 guished foreign naturalists present ; and also to the Museum in which they were as- 

 sembled, being one of the oldest in Great Britain, and containing specimens of great 

 interest in connection with the writings of our early naturalists. 



Mr. J. E. Gray gave an account of two new species of Cetacea. The author 

 stated that our present knowledge of the Cetacea was imperfect ; as few points of ge- 

 neric or specific value had been noted in the descriptions and drawings of the various 

 whales that had been found in different parts. He believed that a greater number of 

 species would be found to exist were this point inquired into. Even with regard to 

 the whale that furnished whalebone, those artizans who worked in it knew that the 

 whalebone from Greenland was a much better article than that from the Cape or from 

 the South Seas ; and yet no distinction existed among naturalists, as to the species 

 which produced this whalebone. He believed, from a comparison of the structure of 

 the vertebrae of the whale now in the Ashmolean Museum with one in the British Mu- 

 seum, that a specific difference existed, although they were thought to belong to the 

 same species. He concluded by describing as two distinct species, two whales which 

 had been originally separated by Sibbald, but afterwards united by Cuvier, under the 

 names of Balaenophoca Sibbaldii, and B. antiquorum. 



. In answer to a question from Dr. Duncan, Mr. Gray stated that he could identify 

 four species of British Cetacea, besides those described — Balaena mystacetus, Physeter 

 Boops, P. musculus, and Megapteryx longimana. — The Prince of Canino objected 

 to the use made by Mr. Gray of old names applied to new species as likely to mislead. 

 It would be better to leave the old names unused than to apply them to new species. 

 — Mr. Gray stated that many species of whales might be known by the parasites 

 which inhabited their bodies. He believed it impossible for the whales of the South 

 Seas to cross to the North Seas. — The Rev. Dr. Scoresby stated that the distribution 



* Extracted from the Athena?um of July 3rd and 10th, 1847. 



