450 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



A good figure and complete description of this animal, 

 is yet a desideratum in Natural History, which we hope to 

 see supplied by some of our own countrymen. 



Pursuing the arrangement of our author, we commence 

 the Common Cetacea with the Dolphins, although other 

 writers class them under the division Cachalot, making 

 that and Balsena include all the Cetacea, herbivorous 

 excepted. 



The form of the Common Dolphin, (Delphinus Delphis) 

 very exactly resembles the figure that two cones would make 

 with the bases joined together. The head is terminated by 

 a very protruded muzzle, considerably flattened from the 

 upper to the under part; many writers have compared it 

 to an enormous beak, shaped like that of a goose or swan. 



The aperture of the mouth of this animal, equals in 

 length the rest of the body. It exhibits two jaws, each 

 equally advanced, and each provided with forty-seven 

 conical and pointed teeth, so arranged, that when the 

 mouth is closed, they enter each into the interstices be- 

 tween the opposite ones : the number, however, varies 

 according to age and sex. 



The tongue has several small perforated eminences, 

 principally towards its root, and is terminated in a point, 

 cut out into narrow, short, and obtuse strips. Though this 

 organ is very fleshy, it is more mobile than in the other 

 Cetacea. It is said to be very agreeable eating. 



The two spiracles unite in one and the same aperture, 

 situated a little above the eye ; the organ of vision is almost 

 in the direction of the extreme point where the two lips 

 unite. The meatus auditorius appears externally only by 

 a narrow orifice, so small as to be with difficulty percepti- 

 ble. Nevertheless, the internal organization of the ear, 

 renders this animal susceptible of great attention ; it pro- 

 duces a sensibility to musical sounds, and enables the 

 Dolphin to distinguish at a considerable distance, the cries 

 of joy or alarm of its congeners. 



