PROFESSOR FLOWER ON RISSO’S DOLPHIN. 3 
of which were worn quite flat. The hinder edge of the most posterior of these was 
24 inches from the anterior edge of the chin; and the three occupied a space of 1°7 inch. 
The middle one was slightly larger than the others, the truncated crown being 0°3 of an 
inch in diameter, and projecting 0-2 of an inch above the level of the gum. The space 
between the right and left anterior tooth was 1:2 inch. 
On the under surface of the body there was a deep median depression containing the 
vulva and anus, 8 inches in length, and bordered in its anterior portion by prominent 
Jabia. The nipples were each placed in a slit, 1 inch long, on the side of the median 
pudendal fissure, and 13 inch distant from it. The mammary glands were largely 
developed, the internal reservoir being filled with milk. This circumstance, combined 
with the dilated, vascular condition of the uterus, showed that the animal had recently 
given birth to a young one. 
Perhaps the most noticeable external character was the very marked and peculiar 
coloration. The most prevalent tint was grey, varying in some parts to pure white, 
and in others to deep black; but the light parts of the head and anterior portion of the 
body had a yellowish wash, and the dark parts a slight bluish or purple tinge which 
varied much in different lights. The length of time that the animal had been out 
of the water may have modified these colours somewhat; but the general disposition of 
the light and dark shades, as shown in the figure, were evidently natural. 
The head and the whole of the body anterior to the dorsal fin was generally of a 
lightish grey, variegated with patches of both darker and whiter hue. The eye was 
surrounded by a small oval patch of black. The lips were mottled with black. There 
was a large, nearly black, patch on the top of the head, extending backwards a short 
distance behind the blow-hole, and on each side towards, but not reaching, the eye. 
Both surfaces of the pectoral fin were nearly black, very finely mottled or dappled with 
grey, and becoming darker towards the tip. The neighbourhood of the axilla was of 
the same dappled colour. Behind the anterior edge of the dorsal fin the general colour 
of the surface, including the dorsal and caudal fins, was nearly black, though with a 
large light patch on the upper part of the side directly above the pudendal orifice. 
The middle of the belly, as far back as the pudendal orifice, was greyish white. 
But what gave the most remarkable and characteristic appearance to the animal was 
the presence of conspicuous, but most irregular, light streaks and spots, scattered over 
the whole of the sides from the front of the head to about two feet from the end of the 
tail, where they ceased, at least on the lateral surfaces. These markings were naturally 
most conspicuous in those parts of the surface where the ground-colour on which they 
were placed was dark. ‘The streaks or lines were of various lengths, and running in all 
directions in a most fantastic manner, some parallel, some crossing each other, and 
some forming sharp angles, zigzags, and scribble-like patterns. When most completely 
developed, and not interfered with by others, each linear marking was of a compound 
character, consisting of a very narrow, central white line, with an irregular, black, 
B2 
