SEVENTEENTH GENUS. OXYPTERUS. 



With two dorsal fins. 



M. REFINESQUE SMALTZ, a naturalist established in 

 Sicily, proposed this name for a dolphin with two 

 dorsal fins, which he affirmed he had seen in the 

 Mediterranean. The evidence he gave of its exist- 

 ence was unsatisfactory, and had not Messrs. Quoy 

 and Gaimard, in their voyage, met with another ex- 

 ample of this very singular genus, it would probably 

 have been passed by in this place. This was the 



RHINOCEROS WHALE. 



Oxypterus Rhinoceros, Lesson. Delphinus Rhinoceros, 

 Quoy and Gaimard. 



As no individual of this species was captured, we 

 cannot present any plate which could be depended 

 upon ; we copy, however, from the atlas of Quoy and 

 Gaimard, a cut which will assist the imagination 

 and rivet the peculiarity on the memory. 



We shall quote the words of these eminent 

 voyagers. " In October 1809, in going from the 

 Sandwich Islands to New South Wales, many Dol- 

 phins, in troops, were performing their rapid evolu- 

 tions about our vessel. Every one on board was 



