70 THE SEA- SWINE. 



the species from Bonnaterre, in order that those 

 who have opportunities of observation may be able 

 to compare the animals and settle the question. 



The body of the sea-swine is conical, having a tri- 

 angular fin on the back. The snout is pointed, and 

 the teeth rounded, trenchant, and enlarged at their 

 summits. The body of this animal is round, thick, 

 and tapering towards the tail. The head represents 

 an obtuse cone, which is much arched above the orbits 

 of the eyes: it thence gradually tapers down to the 

 snout. The eyes are situated opposite the opening 

 of the mouth: the pupil is black, surrounded with a 

 white iris. Both jaws are nearly of the same 

 length; the lower one being armed on each side 

 with a range of small teeth, which are slender at 

 the base, flattened, trenchant, and rounded at the 

 summit; varying in number from fifty to fifty-five. 

 Behind the eye is a small round hole, an inch in 

 diameter; this is the ear. The blow- hole is situated 

 upon the summit of the head, in the centre of the 

 interval between the eyes and angle of the mouth. 

 The nostrils are placed between the blow-holes 

 and the extremity of the muzzle. The lateral fins 

 are placed upon the borders of the lower surface of 

 the body: the dorsal fin occupies the middle of the 

 back. Behind this fin the back is flattened anu 

 raised in the middle by a projection which extends 

 entirely to the caudal fin. On the part of the 

 belly corresponding to the dorsal fin, there is a de- 

 pression which conceals the sexual organs. The 



