268 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. —CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



D. Si(pevciIioftus. Tliis beautiful species was (iljservcd by M. Lesson, 

 after douljling Cape Horn, in smith latitude Alfi . It is al)out the length of 

 the former variety. All the up[>cr parts of the body are of a brilliant black- 

 ish-l)luc color, and the sides and under parts shine with silvery whiteness. 

 'J'hcre is a large white streak over the eye, rcacliing to the front ; and anotiicr 

 mark, like a white ribbon, running along the sides of tlie body near the tail. 



1). LunatH^. — TIic Funenas of the Chilians. " Tiiis small dolphin," 

 says Lesson, "destroyed an immense quantity offish, and every morning, at 

 sunrise, we noticed numerous tniops of them, wliich unceasingly were di\ing, 

 and appeared very busy in hunting their prey. At ten o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, when they had well breakiasted, they devoted tliemselvcs to play, and 

 seemed delighted with their lca[is, apparently strl\ing which siiould rise tiie 

 highest." 



The lengtli of the species is aljont three feet. The beak is slender; tlie 

 back is of a clear fawn-eolor, gradually passing into white bcneatii ; a dark- 

 brown and accurately defined cross is seen on tlie back, on a line witii the 

 pectorals, and anterior to flic dorsal fin. 



Genus Delpiiixokiiynciius. Tiiis group is characterized by a prolonged 

 snout, witii a tliin beak, which is nut separated iVom the foreiiead by afiu'row. 

 The jaws are straigiit, and botli are furnished with numerous sharp teetii. 



I)<:lj)lii uorli[/iicliit.'< Jjrr(Ir/iie/>!<is. A specimen of this species was stranded 

 at Brest, and examined l)y ^I. \on Breda. It was eight feet long. Tiie 

 dorsal fin was elevated ; its pectorals were scythe-shaped, and its tail hmated 

 and curved in the middle. All the upper parts of the species are sooty-black, 

 and the lower of a rich rosy hue. It probably inhabits the Atlantic Ocean, 

 but is somewhat rare. _ 



Genus Soosoo. The beak of tlie soosoo is long and slender, compressed 

 at the sides, and expanded at the extremity, wlicrc it is somewhat curved. 



/S'. (fangeticus. — Tiie Soosoo of the Gauges. Guvier remarks that this 

 is the most extraordinary of all the beaked dtilphins. Tlic name Soosoo 

 is given to it by the natives in Bengal. Tiic body is rather long and slender. 

 The head is obtuse, somewhat acuminated at tlie upper and anterior part, 

 and suddenly tapering to a long, slender, but strong 'oeak. The color is a 

 shining pearly-gray, with here and tiicrc lighter colored sjiots. According 

 to Dr. Iloxburg, they are found in great numbers in the (iangcs, as far up 

 as it is na^•igable, but seem to deligiit most in the slow-moving labyrinth of 

 rivers and creeks which intersect tlie delta of tiiat river to tlie soutii and east 

 of Calcutta. AViien in pursuit of tiie lisli on which it feeds, it moves with 

 great velocity ; but at other times its motions are slower and heavy, often 

 rising to the surface to breathe. The Hindoos employ tiic oil as an external 

 remedy of great efficacy for removing pain. 



