On two subfossil Whales discovered in Sweden. 



5 



rences requires greater critical accuracy than it has been hitherto usual to 

 bring to the subject, as also that the distinguishing characteristics require 

 the setting up of a greater number of generic groups and even families. 

 The Wahlebone Whales are divided into 2 families: Balaenidae, without 

 and Balaenopteridae , with dorsal fin. Under the first of these families are 

 classed 5 or 6 and under the last 8 genera. Ten different species are 

 considered as belonging to the former, of which however one (Bcdaena 

 gibbosa, ERXL.) is very uncertain, and one [Palaeocetiis Sedf/wickii, Seeby) 

 only is found as a fossil; and to the latter family belong 24 different species, 

 some of which appear however tobe uncertain, and therefore have been 

 classed as such. We may in the mean time look upon it as certain, that the 

 number of known species will much increase in proportion as our knowledge 

 of the whales found in the North Pacific and Antarctic Oceans approaches 

 perfection. In the above-named work of Gray the greatest part of the cha- 

 racteristics are derived from the skeleton, as being the part which is most 

 easily accessible for the Museums, and can thus be most frequently made 

 the object of a naturalists study, and which indeed doubtless affords the best 

 marks of distinction. Nevertheless, as far as our present knowledge extends, 

 variations in the structure of the skeleton are always accompanied by varia- 

 tions in the external form of the body, which shows that also these latter pe- 

 culiarities are deserving of attention, and that it is requisite, in order to gain 

 a full and certain diagnosis of the different species, to possess a knowlege 

 not only of the animal's skeleton but also of the form of the body. Some- 

 times in the absence of better indications good characteristics have been 

 derived from the whiskers , as for - example , in the case of the Balaena 

 marginata, Gray. As Prof. Gray in this work has not only set forth the 

 results of his own extensive observations of Cetaeea in general, but has 

 also collected and arranged whatever is new and important in the commu- 

 nications of others, he has made this "Catalogue" a general synopsis of 

 that whole order of Mammals, in the study of which the work thus becomes 

 an indispensable standard. 



The treatise on the Northern Whale published by the late Prof. 

 Eschricht and Prof. J. Reinhardt has the merit of being the most minute 

 and elaborated monography on the subject of any special kind Whalebone 

 Whale that we possess, and accordingly offers, while fully going into the 

 natural history of that Whale, a worthey example and good guide for anyone 

 who may wish to give out a monography of any other kind of Whale. 

 The first of these gentlemen had the intention of publishing a detailed de- 

 scription of the Nordcaper or Biscay o- Whale, but before he could carry 



