PROFESSOR FLOWER ON RISSO’S DOLPHIN. 15 
recognized as inhabiting the northern hemisphere (one having hitherto been met with 
only in the Atlantic, and the other only in the Mediterranean), and have been named 
respectively G. griseus (= G. cuviert, Gray) and G. rissoanus’. 
The earliest account of both of these animals is contained in the ‘ Rapport fait a la 
classe des sciences mathématiques et physiques sur divers Cétacés pris sur les cétes de 
France,’ by G. Cuvier (Annales du Muséum, tome xix. 1812). 
The first is described from a drawing of the external characters, accompanied by the 
skeleton of the animal, sent to the Paris Museum from Brest. It is stated to have been 
34 metres in length, to have had but four teeth in the lower jaw, ‘toutes trés-usées et 
prétes a tomber,” and to be of a “ grisatre” colour, whence Cuvier bestowed upon it the 
name of Delphinus griseus. 'The skeleton (in a very imperfect condition) is still in the 
Museum at the Jardin des Plantes. 
The drawing, reproduced at pl. 1 of the volume of the ‘ Annales,’ obviously gives but 
a mere rude approximation to the true external form of the animal; but it must be 
remarked that there are numerous irregular scratch-like black lines on the face, around 
the eyes, on the dorsal and pectoral fins, and especially on the tail, which can scarcely 
have been put in by the artist without some foundation in nature, although they are 
not alluded to in the exceedingly brief description. 
To continue the history of the various specimens which have been considered to 
belong to this species :— 
In the middle of June 1822, four Dolphins were stranded near |’ Aiguillon (la Vendée), 
and were described in some detail by D’Orbigny. F. Cuvier (Histoire Naturelle des 
Cétacés, 1836, p. 185), citing this account, speaks of them under the denomination of 
“Le Marsouin de d’Orbigny, Phocena griseus,’ and recognizes their specific identity 
with the Brest specimen. The length of the full-grown individuals of this band is 
stated to have been ten feet (Fr.). ‘‘ La teinte générale du dessus du corps et de la 
téte est d’un noir bleuatre; le dessous est d’un blanc sale, qui se fond sur les cétes avec 
le noir.” A figure of one of them is added to the description; but it is probably not to 
be depended upon as giving a correct outline of the animal, owing to the decomposed 
state of the bodies at the time they were examined. There were no traces of teeth in 
the upper jaw of either. A young specimen is said to have had eight teeth in the 
lower jaw, and the older ones from six to seven. The statement that “la machoire 
supérieure est plus longue et s’avance de quatre pouces au-dela de celle d’en bas,” does 
not accord with the descriptions of other observers; but D’Orbigny’s observations were 
made under difficulties. 
In consequence of D’Orbigny’s statement as to the colour, Dr. Gray changed the 
specific name from griseus to cuviert (Ann. N. H. 1846). 
1 A third species (G. richardsonii, Gray) is founded on a lower jaw of unknown locality, and a skull from 
the Cape of Good Hope, which differs slightly from those above described. (Cat. Seals and Whales, Brit. Mus. 
p. 299, 1866.) 
