THE DOLPHIN. 237 



to communicate their discoveries in splendid works, 

 far beyond the risk of private adventure. Not to go 

 so far back as Peron, we shall only name Quoy and 

 Gaimard, the authors of the Zoologie de L' Uranie ; 

 Lesson and Carnot, who published the Zoologw de 

 La Coquilk ; and along with them M. Dussumier, 

 who, on his own account, made several voyages to 

 China, and, unfortunately for science, died before 

 he had digested and published the vast stock of his 

 materials. It is by these gentlemen that the greatest 

 number has within these few years been added to 

 the list. 



The general features which distinguish the Dol- 

 phins are few and simple. Their snout is con- 

 siderably elongated, broad at the base, round at the 

 extremity, resembling considerably a goose's-bill, 

 whence they derive their common appellation. The 

 beak is always flattened transversely, largest at its 

 posterior parts, and both jaws are supplied with 

 many and sharp teeth ; it is also separated from the 

 forehead by a distinct groove. The dorsal fin is 

 always single. 



It used to be held that the Common Dolphin was 

 an inhabitant of every sea throughout the world. 

 This appeared the more credible since the strength 

 of the animals, and the velocity of their swimming, 

 exceeding that of a ship in full sail, would readily 

 account for their appearance in all seas, and even 

 at the opposite poles. A very different opinion, 

 however, is now gaining ground, confirmatory of a 

 sentiment of Buffon's in relation to land animals. 



