THE LEAD-COLOURED DOLPHIN. 24? 



tions, and after having sunk under water, they take 

 a direction different from that which their plunge 

 would have indicated." These circumstances mani- 

 fest something of that mental capacity, with which 

 it is generally supposed the Dolphin is endowed, 

 but which, from the veil which covers their habits, 

 it is not easy to establish. 



THE BRIDLED DOLPHIN. 



PLATE XXV. Fig. 2. 

 Delphinus Fraenatus, Duss., Fr. Cuvier. 



THE length of this specimen was four feet and a half 

 long; the height and thickness of its body form 

 one-sixth of the length. The spiracle is in the per- 

 pendicular over the eyes. The dorsal fin is nearly 

 in the middle of the body ; its length more than 

 one-fifth of the whole body ; its form triangular ; its 

 anterior margin straight, and equal to the base ; it 

 is very pointed. The tail has an acuminated edge, 

 fine and cutting ; its breadth is about a foot. The 

 pectoral is long and slender. It is black on the 

 back ; this colour grows pale on the flanks ; the belly 

 is white : its head is black above ; its sides are of 

 an ash colour, and a band of a deeper shade forms 

 a moustache on the cheek, which extends from the 

 angle of the mouth underneath the eyes. The 

 number of teeth has not yet been ascertained. 



This Dolphin, a male, was harpooned thirty 

 leagues to the south of Cape-de-Verd. It formed 



