452 Proceedings of the Asiatic ¡Society. [No. 4, 



Doubtless the identical specimen mentioned as having been " stranded 

 near Kurrachee" in J. A. S. XXIX, note to p. 482. 



At the time that my memoir on the Great Rorqual of the Indian 

 Ocean was published (Yol. XXYIII, 481 et seq.), I had not seen 

 Dr. J. E. Gray's British Museum Catalogue of Cetácea published in 

 1850. In that work Dr. Gray arranges the JBalcenidae into four 

 genera, thus — 



" A, Dorsal fin none. Belly smooth. .Baleen elongate, slender. 



1. Balita. 



_Z?. Dorsal fin distinct. Belly plaited. Baleen broad, short. 



2. Megaptera. Pectoral fins elongate. Dorsal fin low. 



3. BaljEííoptera. Pectoral fins modérate. Dorsal fin fálcate, 

 -f from nose. Vertebrse 46 or 48. 



4. Physaltts. Pectoral fins modérate. Dorsal fin fálcate, f- 

 length from nose. Yertebrse 54 or 64." 



Now, if my cited authority regarding the great Rorqual of the 

 Indian Seas be fully trustworthy, the dorsal fin of this animal " is 

 about one-third or a little more from the head and is well developed ;" 

 which I take to mean from the setting on of the head, rather than 

 from the extremity of the muzzle ; though even this would place it 

 nearly about the middle of the animal, or considerably too forward 

 for either of the two genera with " fálcate fin" recognised by Dr. 

 Gray. Eeferring to an experienced whaler, who is familiar with the 

 animal, he also states that " the fin is near the middle of the back, 

 if anything rather backward." Further observation is required ; as 

 also respecting the number of vertebrse composing the entire series, the 

 amount of ancliylosis of the cervical vertebrse (or of junction or unión 

 of those that form the neck), the position of the sexual organs with 

 reference to the dorsal fin, and likewise the dimensions of a specimen 

 correctly taken, with those of its dorsal fin, flippers, and tail-flukes, 

 the position of the eye, &c. &c, and above all a carefully executed 

 figure is exceedingly desirable. 



It appears that Sperm Whales (Physetee, macrocephaltts ?) are 

 by no means uncommon off the coast of Ceylon, where, on the 

 eastern side, my informant has seen a ' schule' of 30 or 40 within 

 sight of land. They are also seen about Cochin, and thence across 

 to Zanzíbar, and especially about the Seychelles which is a noted 



