A 



JOURNAL 



OF 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 



AND 



THE ARTS. 



FEBRUARY, 1809. 



ARTICLE L 



Description of a new Species of Whale, Delphinus melas. lt% 

 a Letter from Thomas Stewart Traill, M. Z>. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 Dear Sir, 



Description and correct drawing of an animal never New species of 

 before figured by any naturalist cannot fail of being accept- whale, 

 able to many of your numerous readers. Ninety-two whales 

 of a new species were stranded in Scapay Bay, in Pomona, 

 one of the Orkneys, a few days previous to the great storm 

 in December, 1806. My friend James Watson, Esq. made 

 the enclosed drawing (see Plate III) on the spot, the day 

 after they were driven on shore. 



This animal very clearly belongs to the genus delphinus, Differs from 

 of the class mammalia. The only hitherto described species the grampus, 

 of that genus, which it at all resembles, is the delphinus 

 orca, or grampus; but it is distinguished from the grampus 

 by the shape of its snout, the shortness of its dorsal fin, the 

 length and narrowness of its pectoral fins, the form and 

 number of its teeth, and the colour of its belly and breast. 



Vol. XXII. No. 97— Feb. 1809. G It 



