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Show 1876.] PROF. FLOWER ON ZIPHIUS NOV.E-ZEALANDItf*. 477 Mandible. ft. in. Length of ramus 2 9*75 „ of symphysis „.., 7*25 Vertical height of ramus at coronoid process 6*83 Apex of mandible projecting beyond apex of rostrum. . 1*75 Mandibular tooth, length 2*85 „ „ breadth, greatest 0*61 2. Remarks upon Dr. von Haast's Communication on Ziphius novee-zealandiee. B y Professor F L O W E R , F.R.S. [Received June 5, 1876.] I have to make the following remarks upon Dr. v. Haast's communication which has just been read to the meeting. I. It should be stated that Dr. von Haast in his MS., which he submitted to me, has followed Dr. Gray in using the generic name Epiodon for the animal described ; but I have taken the liberty of substituting the Cuvierian epithet Ziphius. With reference to the revival of the former name, I fully agree with the following remarks of Fischer*: - " M . Gray considere YEpiodon urganantus de Rafinesquef comme le type de Ziphius cavirostris. L'Epiodon urganantus est, pour Desmarest, son Delphinus epiodon ; et voici les caracteres qui lui sont attribues par Rafinesque. ' Corps oblong, attenue posterieurement; machoire inferieure plus courte que la superieure ; plusieurs dents obtuses, egales a celle-ci; aucune a la premiere; pas de nageoire dorsale. ' Habite la mer de Sicile.' " C o m m e on le voit, le genre Epiodon et l'espece urganantus sont plus que brievement decrits ; je pense qu'il est absolument impossible de les reconnaitre, et qu'il serait sage de laisser reposer en paix les diagnoses de Rafinesque; on ne doit pas accorder de notoriete scien-tifique a de pareils travaux." If, therefore, Epiodon is to be used for the present form, the almost universally received and well-characterized Ziphius% would have to be discarded from zoology, as it cannot be with any reason or propriety transferred, as Dr. Gray has done, to another and very distinct genus (Mesoplodon, Gervais). It must be retained for Ziphius cavirostris and its allies, or given up altogether. 2. I do not see that Dr. v. Haast has given any grounds for distinction between his Z. nova-zealandia and the previously described * " Memoire sur les Cetaces du genre Ziphius, Cuvier," Nouv. Arch, du Museum, tome iii. p. 42. t ' Precis des decouvertes et travaux somiologiques,' &c, p. 13 (Palermo 1814). J Cuvier, ' Ossemens fossiles,' 2nd edit. vol. v. 1824. PKOC. ZOOL. Soc-1876, No. XXXII. 32 |