THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 181 



species, which, iu the clear waters of these soutliern 

 seas, are visible many fathoms beneath her keel. 

 One of the most common, and perhaps one of the 

 most beautiful, is the Coryphene [Coryphcena), mis- 

 called, by seamen, the Dolphin. One is never weary 

 of admiring their beauty. Their form is deej), but 

 thin and somewhat flattened ; and their sides are of 

 brilliant pearly white, like polished silver. In small 

 companies of five or six, they usually appear and 

 play around and beneath the ship, sometimes close 

 to the surface, and sometimes at such a depth that 

 the eye can but dimly discern their shadowy out- 

 line. "When playing at an inconsiderable depth, in 

 their turnings hither and thither, the ravs of the 

 sun, reflected from their polished sides, as one or 

 the other is exposed to the light, flash out in sudden 

 gleams, or are interrupted, in a very strilving man- 

 ner. Night and day these interesting creatures are 

 sporting about, apparently unsusceptible of weariness. 

 Their motion is very rapid, when their powers are 

 put forth, as in pursuit of the timid little Flying-fish. 

 It is to these fishes that most of the accounts of 

 Dolphins, v/hich we read in voyages, must be referred, 

 as owing to some mistake of identity, not easily 

 accounted for, the name of Dolphin has been univers- 

 ally misapplied by our seamen to the Coiyphene, 

 while they confound the true Dolj)hin with the 

 Porpesse. From not adverting to this habitual mis- 

 nomer some confusion has arisen : thus the following 

 interesting notice has been quoted in a late valuable 

 work on the Cetacea,* as illustrative of the true 



* Jardiue's Naturalist's Library. 



