Naturelle des Cetaces. 183 
filled up by a band of strong white bristles, somewhat like pigeon's 
quills, which acting like a sieve, hinder the escape of the food when 
the water is discharged from the mouth. The masticating appa- 
ratus is quite peculiar. It is composed not of teeth, of which this 
animal has none, but of two large white bones or dental masses, of 
which the one adheres to the palate, and the other, its opposite, to 
the lower jaw. Even the insertion of these bones is peculiar, for it 
is not into the maxillaries, but they adhere by numerous pores and 
tubercles corresponding to others respectively on the palate and 
lower jaw.* Our interest in this curious structure is still farther 
heightened by the details of a minute examination by Mr Brandt, 
of certain specimens preserved in the museum of St Petersburgh. 
He ascertained that they were wholly horny, and composed of fibres 
agglutinated to one another like the baleen of the whale, and that 
these fibres, when examined by the microscope, are found to be com- 
posed of tubes, as is also ascertained to be the case with a great num- 
ber of hairs.t Plate 7> > affords a correct representation of these 
appearances. (This structure associates the Stellerus both with the 
great whales) and the Dugong ; of which latter Dr Knox remarks, 
an extremely firm horny-looking substance seems to supply the place 
of the incisive teeth. It encrusts that remarkable portion of the up- 
per jaw which, together with a corresponding and opposite one in 
the lower jaw, similarly encrusted, forms an extraordinary feature in 
the face of the Dugong." J 
In the discourse concerning the lesser Cetacea generally, there is 
an account of the osteology of the cranium of the Micropterus of 
Cuvier, which has not previously been published ; and which, with 
the accompanying plate, gives an accurate idea of this part of its 
anatomy. Our author, in this place also, gives a rapid sketch of 
the anatomical structure of the group, concerning which there is 
little to call for observation ; if it be not the oracular manner in 
which he determines the question now agitated regarding the func- 
tions of the blowing canal, and the spoutings of these animals. The 
point is discussed and dismissed in these words, " quoique quelques 
auteurs aient pense le contraire, il parait certain que les narines des 
dauphins offrent un passage a 1'eau que ces animaux puivent avoir 
besuin de faire sortir de leur arriere bouche : Jes attestations d'une 
multitude d'observateurs mettent ce fait hors de doubte." What will 
Mr Scoresby and Blainville say to this? A few details are collected 
concerning the size of the brain ; but whether in one or more spe- 
cies we are not informed, and a very firm stand is thereupon made 
* See p. 48. f See p. 376. \ Edin. Jour, of Science, i. 157. P. 83. 
