386 CETACEA. 



The species of dolphins are very numerous. Gray enumerates ten 

 species in the genus : they inhabit all the oceans, and possess the 

 same general traits. 



We must remember that in common language the name " dolphin " is 

 applied to the Scomberoid fish Coryphana, and this must not be con- 

 founded with any species of the Dclpliinus of the naturalists. 



GENUS DELPHINUS. 



The general characteristics of the genus may be summed up as 

 follows : the head is small in proportion, and is prolonged into a beak- 

 like snout equal in length to the rest of the head, the jaws are armed 

 with an extraordinary number of teeth, the pectoral fins are lateral, the 

 dorsal fin rises from the centre of the back, the tail is very large, and 

 forms almost a complete crescent. 



The Dolphin, Dclpliinus Ddphis (Plate XXVII), attains on the 

 average a length of six feet. The number of its teeth vary considerably ; 

 specimens have been found with the astonishing number of two hundred 

 and twelve ; these teeth are so arranged that those of the lower-jaw fit 

 into the interstices of those in the upper-jaw ; and are all sharply pointed 

 and curved backward, thus enabling the dolphin to hold securely its 

 slippery prey. All the seas of the Northern Hemisphere are inhabited 

 by this Cetacean, and it is everywhere a favorite of the sailors. It loves 

 to follow vessels, and however swift their speed is, it gambols around 

 their bows as if they were stationary. Dolphins are seen in troops 

 numbering from ten up to many hundred members, their companionship 

 arising chiefly from community of interest in obtaining food. This 

 consists of small fishes, such as herrings or sardines, and they chase 

 with great eagerness the flying-fish. In fact, it is the attack of the 

 dolphin that makes the bonito leap from its native element. 



In old clays, the flesh of the Dolphin was considered a luxury ; and as 

 the creature, in common with all the Cetaceans, was considered as 

 belonging to the fishes, its flesh was a permitted diet upon fast-days, 

 and was served at table with a sauce composed of bread-crumbs, 

 vinegar, and sugar ; now-a-davs, however, the flesh of the dolphin has 

 fallen entirely into disrepute as an article of diet. The formation of the 

 Dolphin's brain is of such a nature that it indicates great intelligence on 



