DELPHINID& 267 



small, narrow, and ovate. Typified by C. hearisulei, from the 

 southern seas. C. eutropia is a very distinct form from the same 

 seas, known only by the skull, and referred provisionally to this 

 genus. 



Orcella. 1 Teeth -J-f to ^, small, conical, pointed, rather closely 

 set, and occupying nearly the whole length of the rostrum. Skull 

 subglobular, high. Rostrum nearly equal in length to the cranial 

 portion of the skull, tapering. Pterygoids widely separated from 

 one another. Manus of moderate size, not elongated, but some- 

 what pointed. All the bones of the digits broader than long, 

 except the proximal phalanges of the index and third fingers. 

 Dorsal fin rather small, placed behind the middle of the body. 

 Two species, both of small size 0. hrevirostris, from the Bay of 

 Bengal, and 0. fluminalis, from the Irawadi river, from 300 to 

 900 miles from the sea. Our present knowledge of the anatomy, 

 geographical distribution, and habits of these interesting Cetaceans 

 is almost entirely due to the researches of Dr. J. Anderson. 2 



Orca? Teeth about ^-|, occupying nearly the whole length of 

 the rostrum, very large and stout, with conical recurved crowns, 

 and large roots, expanded laterally and flattened, or rather hollowed, 

 on the anterior arid posterior surfaces. Rostrum about equal in 

 length to the cranial part of the skull, broad and flattened above, 

 rounded in front ; premaxillae broad and rather concave in front of 

 the nares, contracted at the middle of the rostrum, and expanding 

 again towards the apex. Pterygoids of normal form, but not quite 

 meeting in the middle line. Vertebrae: C 7, D 11-12, L 10, 

 C 23 ; total 51 or 52. Bodies of the first and second and some- 

 times the third cervical vertebras united ; the rest free. Pectoral 

 fin very large, ovate, nearly as broad as long. All the phalanges 

 and metacarpals broader than long. General form of body robust. 

 Dorsal fin near the middle of the back, very high and pointed. 

 Anterior part of the head broad and depressed. 



The animals composing this genus are met with in almost all 

 seas from Greenland to Tasmania, but the number of species is still 

 uncertain, and possibly they may be all reduced to one. They are 

 readily known, when swimming in the water, by the high, erect, 

 falcate dorsal fin, whence their common German name of Scliwert- 

 fisch (Sword-fish). By English sailors they are generally known as 

 " Grampuses " or " Killers." They are distinguished from all their 

 allies by their great strength and ferocity, being the only Cetaceans 

 which habitually prey on warm-blooded animals, for, though fish 

 form part of their food, they also attack and devour Seals, and 



1 Gray, Cat. Seals and JVTiales in Brit. Mus. p. 285 (1866). 



2 Anatomical and Zoological Researches, comjmsing an Account of the Zoological 

 Results of the two Expeditions to Western Yunnan, in 1868 and 1875 (1878). 



3 Gray, Zoology of Erebus and Terror, p. 33 (1846). 



