1 8 MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 



of this species on a large scale at Cape May. Though numbers were taken 

 the enterprise did not prove a success." — True, MSS. note, 1902. ' 



They are most abundant in spring, rare in December and January, apd 

 decrease greatly by July, They associate in large schools, as many as 66 

 being taken in the nets at one haul during the spring migration. At this 

 time the females are suckling young of various sizes, some of which had been 

 born the previous winter and fall. The number of sexes is about equal. 

 The average length is 9 feet. The largest taken at Cape Hatteras was 1 2 feet 

 long, and yielded 24 gallons of oil. The color is purplish lead-gray above, 

 the belly white, indistinctly separated by a line joining the base of the tail 

 and angle of the mouth. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper. Their 

 food is small fish. The oil is of superior quality, and the skin makes an ex- 

 ceedingly strong leather. The number taken at the Hatteras fishery in season 

 of 1884-85 was 1,268. 



Records in N. /., Cape May Co. — "Caught in numbers at Cape May." — 

 Jordan, Man. of Vert. U. S., 1899, p. 333. 



A specimen from Cape May, taken Sept. i, 1884, is in the U. S. Nat. Mu- 

 seum. Another, taken at Turkey Gut, near Cape May, Oct. 8, 1883, is also 

 in the National Museum. It is a skeleton of a female, No. 20,962. — True, 

 1902. ^ 



The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia " has been presented, 

 with a skeleton of a very old individual by Dr. Howell of this city, who ob- 

 tained the animal some years since from a fisherman's seine at Red Bank, 

 below opposite this city." — Cope, Proc. A. N. Sci., Philada., 1865, p. 281. 

 This specimen was here described, and named Delphinus erebennus. I am 

 told that it is yet in the Academy's collection. It is considered by cetolo- 

 gists to be the same as T. iursio. — Rhoads, 1902. 



Genus Delphinus Linnseus, Systema Naturae, 1758, Vol. I, p. 77. 

 Common Dolphin ; Ring-Eyed Porpoise. Delphinus delphis Linnaeus. 



1758. Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, Vol. ,1, p. 79. 



Type locality. — Co.ast of Europe. 



Faunal distribution. — Temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, 

 Pacific and Indian Oceans, generally avoiding harbors and bays. 



Distribution in Pa. and N.J. — Not certainly found in the limits of Penna. 

 Living off the shores of N. J. Occasionally entering New York and (?) 

 Delaware Bays. Jordan says it is scarce on the coasts of North America. 

 Godman says they were abundant in 1827 in the bays and harbors of the 

 Middle States. 



Habits, etc. — ^The habits and popular names of the dolphins and porpoises 

 on our coast are greatly confused, owing to their similarity in size and actions. 



