REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. © 473, 
those of Dr. Schlegel’s; the birds are, however, referred to four 
genera, instead of one, and for this, excellent reason appears. 
We would only remark in the matter of synonymy, that Apteno- 
dytes “ Pennantii Gray” is antedated by “longirostris Scopo.t,” 
while “ papua Forst.” should be cancelled, on the score of being 
geographically inept, in favor of ‘‘tæniata Pearse.” Our own slight 
connection with the paper, in the shape of some osteological mem- 
oranda, must of course not stand in the way of our according the 
high praise that Prof. Hyatt’s work merits. — E. C. 
3 DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIMEN OF BALÆNOPTERA MUSCULUS.* — As 
ìs well known, no mammals more rarely fall under the observation 
of naturalists than the larger Cetacea, and hence the detailed and 
careful description and illustration by figures, of the skeleton of 
even a common species, is a valuable contribution to science. As 
AA the Cetacea apparently present a remarkable range of in- 
dividual var iation, in consequence of which both species and genera 
have been unduly multiplied, a large number of supposed species 
me at present known only from single and often imperfect spec- 
mens, and in some cases merely from a few disconnected. bones. 
Those who have had an opportunity of studying the largest number 
at Specimens appear generally disposed to favor a considerable 
reduction of the number of described species. In the present 
PRN Dr. Dwight has given a detailed and very satisfactóry 
description of the osteology of apparently our most common 
Species of finback whale, which he believes to be identical with the 
gae musculus of Van Beneden and the older authors, or 
ie salus antiquorum of Dr. J. E. Gray. 
me the The task undertaken,” the author observes, ‘is to add one to 
rat of thoroughly described skeletons, and to endeavor to 
is. at the range of purely individual variations is greater than 
, Seherally admitted.” In addition to the description of each 
: tt > and generally a comparison of it with the published descrip- 
vey “a figures of other specimens, he has added an interesting 
i A ag the comparative breadth of the skull and beak of 
ety’s. “escribed specimens, which indicates that while the Soci- 
Nae =. " the Whale (Balænoptera musculus Auct.) in the possession of the 
MD — on the classification of Fin Whales. By Thomas Dwight, jt., 
Mem. Bost.’ i ; d 2 plates. 
Tune jer e Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. 11, pp. 203-230. 11 woodcuts and 2 p 
; , 1872, (Read May 17, 1871.) 7 : 
