OCR Text |
Show 1874.] SPECIES O F E U P H Y S E T E S . 261 channel of the right blow-hole had an opening of its own so that it could throw out a separate jet of water, or, what is more likely, could only add a minute quantity to the main jet thrown out by the left blow-hole, of which more anon. The form of the dorsal fin, also, could not be well ascertained, as the hind edge, which is described by MacLeay as nearly perpendicular and concave, had in our specimen been torn away previously, the wound being well scarred. The small eyes situated so low down the broad head, the pectoral fins of such inconsiderable size, the small mouth being placed, like that of a shark, well back, give to this animal a strange appearance. When first examining the anatomical characters of the skull, it at once became evident that, if not identical with Euphysetes grayii, it would be closely allied to it. ft. in. Entire length of cranium 1 1*5 Greatest breadth of cranium (at parietal region) \V2 Beak from notch, length 5*2 Beak, breadth at notch 6*1 Length of beak at occipital bone 5*5 Breadth of beak at occipital bone 6*8 From these measurements it will be seen that the beak is shorter than broad, but not quite so much truncated and blunt as in Gray's whale. However, the most characteristic feature in the skull is the asymmetry of the bones, which makes it appear at first sight that we have a remarkable case of deformity before us. MacLeay has given a masterly description of those anomalies, and has shown how, by the great development of some bones, such as the right intermaxillary, and by the stunted form of others, these striking contortions are brought about, by which that remarkable asymmetry is caused-to which I can add nothing, as his description agrees entirely with our New-Zealand skull. The blow-holes are exceedingly disproportionate in size, the right one being scarcely the tenth of an inch in diameter, whilst the left is nearly fifteen times as large, of an oblong form, being 1| inch long and 1-^ inch broad. The rami of the lower jaw are very thin and fragile, and have, like Gray's whale, scarcely any condyles. It agrees also with the latter, except in the position of the teeth, having 13 on each side, which are described by MacLeay as projecting horizontally and being curved upwards. In the New- Zealand species they have the same slender conical form, but stand out sideways with their points curved inwards, the last tooth on each side, however, being curved forward, its hook nearly touching the preceding one ; the first two teeth on each side stand nearly perpendicular to the jaw, whilst the rest incline slightly backward, with the exception of the last tooth, which has again a perpendicular position. All these teeth fit into sockets on both |