THE TRUE DOLPHIN. 65 



A full grown dolphin measures about six feet six 

 inches in length, from the tip of the mouth to the 

 end of the tail, and from the end of the beak to the 

 angles of the mouth the distance is ten and a half 

 inches; and measuring from the same point to the 

 breathing-hole, thirteen inches. The eyes are 

 placed almost precisely on the same line with the 

 angle of the mouth, and are ten and a half inches 

 distant from each other. The lateral or humeral 

 fins are nine and a half inches long, and four broad. 

 The dorsal fin, measured along its anterior edge, is 

 ten inches high; measured along its base in the di- 

 rection of the back, it is eight inches. The tail, 

 measured at the extremity of its two lobes, is four- 

 teen inches broad. 



The body of the true dolphin is nearly oval, hav- 

 ing the dorsal fin to curve backwards at its summit: 

 the beak being flattened and pointed, and contain- 

 ing in both jaws a range of rounded, rather pointed 

 teeth, which project from the sockets about three 

 twelfths of an inch. These teeth are all arranged 

 so as to interlock; and appear to vary according to 

 the sex and age of the animal.* The head of this 

 animal does not project over the beak, but is gra- 

 dually enlarged backwards until in a line with the 

 back. The line from the under surface of the 

 lower jaw, is continued with very little change of 



* From 84 to 95 upper, from 84 to 95 lower teeth, all of 

 which are regarded as molars. 



Vol. III.— 9 



