464 DELPHINID^. 



Museum. It appears to he much rarer on the shores 

 of the more northern patts of Britain than in the 

 south. 



The habits of the Common Dolphin appear to be 

 similar to those of the rest of this extensive genus. 

 The excessive activity and playfulness of its gambols, 

 and the evident predilection which it evinces for society, 

 are recorded by every mariner. Large herds of these 

 animals will surround a ship in full sail vpith the most 

 eager delight, throwing themselves into every possible 

 attitude and tossing and leaping about with elegant and 

 powerful agility, for no apparent purpose save mere 

 pastime. 



The principal food of the Dolphin is fish of various 

 kinds, along with invertebrate animals, as Cuttle-fish, 

 crustaceans, and Medusa. On the Cornish coast it seems 

 to prey chiefly on Pilchards and Mackerel. Its voice 

 is said to consist only of a low murmur or suppressed 

 lowing sound. 



The female brings forth but a single young one, which 

 she nurses and suckles with the greatest tenderness and 

 care. As in the other cetaceans, the mammary glands 

 become much enlarged at the period of birth, and the 

 teats are exerted ; the calf seizes the teat with itslips, 

 and [the mother floats to some degree on one side, so as 

 to enable both herself and her young one to breathe 

 while the operation of suckling is going on. The milk 

 is abundant and very rich. 



The flesh of this animal was formerly considered a 

 delicacy, and it was eaten, as was the Porpoise, with a 

 sauce composed of crumbs of bread, vinegar and sugar. 

 As all cetaceans were considered to be fishes, the Church 

 permitted their flesh to be eaten on maigre days. M. 

 F. Cuvier says that this custom of eating the Dolphin 



