PORPOISES AND DOLPHINS 329 



Genus Delphinus. 



THE COMMON DOLPHIN {Delphinus delphis). PI. VIII d 

 Fig. 94. 



The Common Dolphin is readily recognized by its well-defined 

 narrow beak and distinctive coloration. The beak, 5-6 inches 

 in length, is narrower and finer than that of the Bottle-nosed 

 Dolphin, and is sharply marked off by a deep V-shaped 

 groove from the low reclining forehead. The dorsal fin is 

 moderately developed, tapers to a backwardly-projecting tip 

 and has concave hinder margin. There are no pronounced 

 ridges like those found on the tails of the White-beaked and 

 White-sided Dolphins. The flippers are of moderate size and 

 tapering. 



The body is black or dark brown on the back and white on 

 the belly ; on each side is an area occupied by undulating 

 bands or stripes of grey, yellow and white, which give the im- 

 pression of overlapping one another in the region below the 

 back fin. The more delicate details of pigmentation, especially 

 of the sides, become quickly obliterated on the death of the 

 animal. A ring of black encircles the eye, and from it a darkly 

 pigmented narrow streak extends towards the snout. Flippers 

 and flukes are darkly pigmented. 



Upper and lower jaws bear 40 to 50 pairs of very small teeth, 

 measuring at most \ inch in diameter. 



The adult length of the Common Dolphin may be as much 

 as 8 feet 6 inches, although lengths over 8 feet are uncommon. 



This species has a very wide range of distribution ; it may 

 be met with in any temperate or warm sea throughout the 

 world, and occurs at times in vast schools. It is the common 

 dolphin of the Mediterranean, and the one depicted in ancient 

 works of art and mentioned in classic fable. We are told that 

 Arion of Lesbos, lyric, poet and famous player on the cithara, 

 was saved by these song-loving dolphins. He was returning 

 to Corinth from Sicily carrying the trophies he had won in 

 some musical contest when the sailors, jealous of his wealth, 

 determined to kill him. He attracted the dolphins to the ship 

 by his playing, and casting himself into the sea was borne to 

 safetv on the back of one of them. 



