1883.] 



PROF. FLOWER ON THE DELPHINID.E. 



501 



cellent figure ^), passed straight to the posterior canthus of the eye, 

 and then divided, one tract passing above and the other below that 

 organ, the former merging into the light band just above the supra- 

 rostral groove, the latter reaching the angle of the mouth. Between 

 this white band and the pectoral fin the surface was gray, though 

 somewhat varied, but still much darker than in the specimen 

 figured. 



These differences are, however, slight compared with those that 

 have been shown liy Lafont and Fischer" to occur in different indi- 

 viduals, attributed by the last-named author to Belphinus deljjhis. 



'fit 



Fig. 9. — Palate of Belphinus delphis. 



taken in the Bay of Arcacbon, where this species is very abundant. 

 Upon these differences Lafont established five species : D. fusus, D. 

 souverhianus, D. variegatvs, D. balteatus, and D. moschatus, which 

 Fischer reduces to two marked varieties, one having yellov? sides, 

 the other with grey sides. The description and figures of the ex- 

 ternal and osteological characters of so many individuals of the com- 

 mon Dolphin from the same locality, given in this memoir, is a con- 

 tribution to the progress of Cetology the importance of which can 

 scarcely be overrated; as if these are really all to be regarded as one 

 species, as appears the most reasonable view, especially since the 

 variation of external characters does not appear to go hand in hand with 



^ Naturh. Forenings Vidensk. Meddelelser, 1866, tav. v. 

 ^ " Cetaces du Sud-Ouest de la France," Actes de la Soc. Linneenne de Bor- 

 deaux, xxxT., 1881. 



