140 



" Above twenty of this species were killed in the Frith of Forth, in 

 the latter end of April, 1867, the school containing from 150 to 200. 

 The largest measured 26 feet long, and the smallest between 6 and 7 

 feet. Authentic accounts show that 40, 70, 92, 98, 150, and 200 have 

 been destroyed at one onslaught." Selected from Murie, T.Z.S., vol. 8, 

 part 4. 



GBAMPUS GEISETJS, Cuvier. Eisso's Dolphin. 



Synonyms Delphinus griseus, Cuv. 

 Delphinus aries, Bisso. 



Grampus Cuvieri, Gray. S. & "W., p. 295. Suppl., p. 83. 

 Grampus Bissoanus, Gray. S. & "W., p. 293. Suppl., p. 82. 

 Grampus griseus, Flower. T.Z.S., vol. 8, part 1. 



Teeth ^ to & " No traces of teeth in the upper jaw ; 3 to 7 rather 

 small teeth on each side of lower jaw, near the symphysis ; apices worn 

 down quite flat." 



" The female, taken February, 1870, in a mackerel net, near the 

 Eddystone Lighthouse, was young, but adult, and measured 10 feet 6 

 inches. Colour grey, varying in some parts to pure white, in others to 

 deep black ; but anteriorly the light parts had a yellowish wash, and 

 the dark parts a slight bluish or purplish tinge. Anterior to the dorsal 

 fin the colour is lightish grey, variegated with darker or whiter patches. 

 On the top of the head there is a large, nearly black, patch, and the 

 middle of the belly is greyish-white. The most remarkable character- 

 istic was the presence of conspicuous, most irregular, light streaks and 

 spots, scattered over the whole of the sides, from the front of the head 

 to about 2 feet from the end of the tail. The streaks or lines were 

 of various lengths, and running in the most fantastic manner, some 

 parallel, some crossing each other, and some forming sharp angles, 

 zigzags, and scribble-like patterns. These are entirely absent from the 

 dorsal, pectoral, and upper surface of the caudal fins. 



" This animal in its general form resembled Globiocephalus more 

 than any other cetacean, having a similar rounded adipose protu- 

 berance, but developed to a less extent." 



About a month after the capture of the above individual, another 

 very young animal, also a female, was taken along the British coast, 

 and exhibited in Billingsgate market, where it was subjected to Mr. 

 Flower's examination. These two recently-acquired specimens agreed 

 in their general colours, and in the peculiar disposition of the markings. 



In order to institute comparisons between the foregoing animals and 

 those previously described by Eisso, Cuvier, Gray, and others, Mr. 

 Flower gives a list of the various examples, stranded from 1S22 to 1867, 

 of Grampus griseus (said only to occupy the open seas), and of 

 Grampus Eissoanus (hitherto only met with in the Mediterranean), for 



