THE EXTERNAL FORM OF WHALES 15 



forehead a horn or fin curved backwards, similar to 

 that upon the back. The size of the animals was 

 about double that of the common porpoise, and the 

 upper surface, as far as the dorsal fin, was spotted 

 black and white. We carefully examined these 

 dolphins for the whole time that they accompanied 

 us ; but, although they passed close enough to touch 

 the prow of our corvette, having the highest part 

 of the body out of the water, their head was so 

 deeply plunged below the surface that M. Arago (the 

 draughtsman of the expedition) and we ourselves 

 were unable to distinguish whether the snout was 

 long or short." They called this animal " Le Dauphin 

 rhinoceros." The relation of these gentlemen gains 

 support from some observations of Rafinesque, who 

 recorded a dolphin from the Sicilian coast also with 

 two dorsal fins, and which he named " Mongitore." 

 Further than this, Mr. Couch was " informed that 

 a dolphin with two dorsal fins had been observed 

 in April, 1857, on the coast of Cornwall." (GRAY, 

 CataL Seals and Whales, p. 267.) 



These dolphins, or whatever they were, must, 

 however, remain problematical for the time being. 

 But there is clearly a case which cannot be absolutely 

 ignored, and there is no inherent improbability, 

 especially when we remember the series of low humps 

 upon the back of the Cachalot. 



