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Show 236 DR. J. VON HAAST ON ZIPHIUS NOViE-ZEALANDI**. [Apr. 6, of the same species, unless their greater bulk, or probably greater speed, make up for this disadvantage. Of the males of Ziphius novce-zealandice we know nothing at present; but there is no doubt in my mind that with them the teeth in front of the lower jaw are both permanent and of larger size than those of the females, just in the same manner as in other Ziphioid genera. Fortunately, however, there is some evidence at band, strengthening such a hypothesis. Dr. Hector, in his account in the Transactions of the New-Zealand Institute (on p. 164, vol. v.) of the skull of Epiodon chathamiensis, obtained in the Chatham Islands, describes the teeth of this species as follows:-" The lower jaw . . . . terminates in two short, stout, slightly compressed teeth, 2 inches long and 4 in circumference, implanted in shallow sockets. The teeth have slight irregular striae, and are worn down into two lateral facets divided by an acute ridge. The position of the teeth when the jaws are closed is two inches beyond the upper mandible; and, unless they are applied against callosities on the upper lip, it is difficult to conceive how they are worn down to this acute form. Weight of teeth 817 and 836 grains." " Two teeth of similar form, taken from the jaw of a whale cast up on the Manawatu beach, have their facets forming an obtuse pyramidical tip." Of this last pair of teeth no weight is given ; but it is evident from the drawing that they must be as heavy as the former. The teeth of the females examined by m e range from 62 to 200 grains. There is no doubt that the form and chief characteristic features of the skull from the Chatham Islands described as Epiodon chathamiensis and those of the two female whales secured by me are almost identical, if we except the teeth, which in the former are at least four times as heavy as in the latter. In m y paper published in the ' Proceedings' of this Society for 1876, p. 468, I pointed out already that the skull of this Chatham-Island whale might have belonged to the male of Epiodon novce-zealandice, thus accounting for the difference. After having seen the two female animals stranded on our beach scarred in such a remarkable manner, I am more than ever inclined to this opinion. If the three specimens alluded to had been males, it would be easy enough to understand that the wounds had been inflicted during their fights in rutting-time, or for supremacy, as-this is the case with most terrestrial animals. However, the fact that the wounds by which the oval scars were produced are mostly in close proximity to the pudendum, suggest forcibly that they have been inflicted by male animals. With respect to the external appearance of the different species of other Ziphioid genera, such as Mesoplodon, Berardius, and Oulo-don, of which several specimens, both male and female, have been examined by me, I may state that none of them had the least scar or wound upon them. Of course this may be accounted for by the fact that the teeth of most of these genera are situated so far backwards that they could scarcely be used for the same mode of attack. Dr. Hector, in the 'Transactions of the New-Zealand Institute' (p. 338, vol. x.), gives an account of the capture of an adult male of Berar- |