| OCR Text |
Show 1876.] DR. J. VON HAAST ON A NEW ZIPHIOID WHALE. 9 The first of the accompanying photographs shows the three skulls in comparison with each other; the second the middle portion of the second skull, belonging to an aged (male?) individual; whilst the following list gives the principal dimensions of these three skulls with the soft parts attached, as far as they could be ascertained; but as soon as they are macerated I shall offer some further observations on their anatomical structure. Table of Measurements of three Skulls of Mesoplodon Grayi, with the greater portion of soft parts adhering. Height of Skull from top of nasals (skin preserved) to lower border of pterygoids, the latter lying exposed... Greatest breadth of skull across postorbital processes of frontals Length of skull from crest of nasal bones to anterior border of rostrum, in a Length of ramus of lower jaw, soft parts preserved on anterior border From gape* of mouth to anterior bor- From anterior border of lower jaw to centre of tooth From centre of tooth to gape of mouth. Breadth of lower jaw at centre of Distance from extremity of rostrum to first anterior tooth Distance from gape to end of teeth ... Eye, perpendicular diameter, about ... Opening of blower, the two extremities slightly directed backwards, about... Number of teeth in upper jaw Skull I., probably female (full-grown). ft. in. 0 11-13 1 0-48 2 5-46 2 7-52 1 6-50 10-75 7-75 2-31 1106 1*02 2*25 4*50 19 Skull II., probably male (aged). ft. in. 0 11-38 1 0*88 2 3-47 2 6-03 1 4-87 1012 6*75 2*69 10*75 1-37 2-27 4-50 17 SkuU III., probably male (young). ft. in. 0 912 9-51 1 5-07 1 7*75 1005 5*00 505 1 75 5*62 1*40 3*25 17 I should have liked to give also in this list the breadth of the rostrum at the anteorbital notches, as it would have supplied another important point for comparison ; but the coverings prevented this ; also I was not able to give the total length of each skull, owing to the occipital portion being cut off; but the length of the skulls from crest of nasals to anterior border of the rostrum, as well as the length of the ramus of each mandible, will supply this deficiency and offer us sufficient material for comparison. * The drying of the skin has been so unequal in the different specimens, and ieven on tbe two sides of the same skull, that the position of the gape cannot be fixed with precision. |
