Naturelle des Cetaces. \ 79 
some specimens transmitted to him by M. Van Breda, a relative 
of the illustrious Camper, that these two were quite distinct ; that 
the Rostrattis of Shaw was the Gangeticus, and that the Frontatus, 
M. Geoffrey's specimen, had the dorsal tin of the same species. * 
In 1828, Mr Lesson gave an accurate account of Van Breda's 
specimen under the name of Delphinorhyncus B redanensis , a name 
quite appropriate and unobjectionable, Next year, however, (loc. 
cit.) Cuvier refers to this species under the appellation of the 
Restrains, which, according to another statement, in the same 
page, is the Gangeticus : he also distinctly places it among the 
Delphinorhynci. Again, our author, in 1833, states that his bro- 
ther had named this new species Rostratus, referring in proof to 
theOss. Fos. v. 400, where we find that no such name was given to 
it : at the same time he applies a new trivial name to it, D. a long 
bee. In the work before us he changes his ground, and adduces as 
proof that the Baron had named the species Rostratus, in the Regne 
Animal, 1817* where the Rostratus of Shawalone is named. Finally, 
our author, who in 1833 had followed his brother, and had taken 
pains to show that this was a Delphinorhyncus, " le museau de cet 
espece montre assez quelle appartient a la division qu'on a plus par- 
ticulierement designee Delphinorhynque,"- three years afterwards, 
in the work before us, excludes it from this genus, and ranks it as a 
Delphinus. It is assuredly not a little grievous, that when the great 
Cuvier could say of this very species, " Ces indications serve a met- 
tre les naturalists a la torture," M. Frederic should now be acting in 
a way so truly extraordinary, for it is not easy to regard his entangled 
web as the result of mere carelessness or accident. 
The fossils of this order of Mammalia have an interest peculiarly 
their own. To find not quadrupeds the congeners of those which 
now tread upon the soil, but the mighty monarchs of the deep, in the 
centre of immense continents, and on the slopes of lofty hills, cannot 
fail to excite the most profound reflections. This, along with the 
fact, that Cuvier has devoted to them a most painful and successful 
investigation, has conferred on them an interest of the highest cha- 
racter; and hence we are not surprised to find that these fossils re- 
ceive a prominent place in almost every history of the order which 
has appeared. From the work before us, however, they are exclud- 
ed ; and our author in a few words of the introduction advertises us 
of this peculiarity, remarking, that he has always considered these 
organic remains as the proper subject of a distinct branch of science. 
On several grounds we consider this as matter of regret. Were the 
treatise entirely popular, still we think that a passing notice of these 
Regne Animal, 1829, 289. 
