PEOrESSOE FLOWEE ON EISSO'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. cuvieri. Gray) and G. rissoanus\ 



The earliest account of both of these animals is contained in the ' Rapport fait a la 

 classe des sciences mathematiques et physiques sur divers Cetaces pris sur les cotes de 

 France,' by G. Cuvier (Annales du Museum, 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 

 3J metres in length, to have had but four teeth in the lower jaw, "toutes tres-usees et 

 pretes a tomber," and to be of a " grisatre" colour, whence Cuvier bestowed upon it the 

 name of Belphinus griseus. The skeleton (in a very imperfect condition) is still in the 

 Museum at the Jardin des Plantes. 



The drawing, reproduced at pi. 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 I'Aiguillon (la Vendee), 

 and were described in some detail by D'Orbigny. F. Cuvier (Histoire Naturelle des 

 Cetaces, 1836, p. 183), citing this account, speaks of them under the denomination of 

 "Le Marsouin de d'Orbigny, Phoccena 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 generale du dessus du corps et de la 

 tete est d'un noir bleuatre ; le dessous est d'un blanc sale, qui se fond sur les cotes 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 

 superieure est plus longue et s'avance de quatre pouces au-dela de celle d'en has," 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 cuvieri (Ann. N. H. 1846). 



' A third species {0. richanhonii. Gray) is founded on a lower jaw of unknown locality, and a skuU from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, which differs slightly from those above described. (Cat. Seals and Whales, Brit. Mus. 

 p. 299, 1866.) 



