254 A BOOK OF WHALES 







ascertained species, may be termed the true dolphins. 

 They have a long beak, and are to be distinguished 

 from all other Delphinidae by the deep grooves on 

 the palatal surface of the maxillaries, producing thus 

 a separation between the alveolar border and a raised 

 median ridge. Though there are not more than 

 three ascertained species (according to Mr. True), 

 an immense number of names have been given. 

 The Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis, appears 

 to be identical with animals that have received the 

 following names : D. major, D. fulvofasciatus^ D. 

 forsteri, D, janira, D. pomeegra, D. bairdii, D. 

 moorei, D. walkeri, D. novae-zelandiae, D. albimanus, 

 D. marginatus, D. fuse us, D. souverbiamis, D. varie- 

 gatus, D. balteatus, D. algerienis, D. mosckatus. 

 This lengthy list is the result of giving a new name 

 to a dolphin captured or observed in a fresh locality. 

 We have simply to do with a Cetacean of exceedingly 

 wide range, or as Lacepede who delighted more 

 in symmetrical sentences than in a plain record of 

 cold fact observed: "It is met with in the favourable 

 climes of the temperate zones, under the burning 

 firmament of the equatorial seas, and in the horrible 

 valleys which separate the enormous mountains of 

 ice which time builds upon the surface of the polar 

 ocean as so many funeral monuments to Nature who 

 is there expiring " ! * 



* Goldsmith was not so far wrong in all probability in asserting that 

 the Mediterranean dolphin was also to be found in the Red Sea, though 

 his actual attempt at proof may have been shaky. 



