SPOTTED DOLPHIN. 323 



reproduction of the somewhat erode original. The whole lower part 

 of the bodv, including the pectorals and beak and a band over the tail, 

 is represented as being of a very dark stone-color, while the upper half 

 is black. The whole body is sparingly covered with irregular while 



spots. In having light-COlored pectorals and beak and a Innate band 

 of light color over the tail, this animal appears to differ from the Pen- 

 sacola specimen. The skulls are quite similar, bat the beak is longer 

 and narrower in I). punctata* and the teeth are more numerous (£5); The 

 skeleton, on account of restricted time, I was unable to examine in de- 

 tail. 



A comparison with the species known only from the skull is not 

 entirely satisfactory. The Pensacola specimen is identical, in the first 

 place, with the I). plagiodon described by Professor Cope in I860 (P. A. 

 H; S. P., 18Gu, j). 29G) from a single skull, without locality, contained in 

 the collections of the National Museum. I have compared the two 

 skulls with each other and can find no differences of importance. (See 

 measurements, p. 321.) D. plagiodon, however, as Professor Cope him- 

 self suspected, would appear to be identical with Prodelphimis doris 

 (Gray). (See measurements, p. 321.) 



The type of the latter species is considerably smaller than that of 

 P. plagiodon, but agrees with it closely in detail. So far the identifica- 

 tion is reasonably sure, and it is, perhaps, best that we should not 

 attempt to seek an earlier name. If we do we fall inevitably into per- 

 plexity. There are a number of skulls in the Paris Museum labeled 

 P. dubius, which, as Professor Flower has already pointed out, show a 

 great similarity to the type of P. doris; but we do not know to which 

 particular specimen Cuvier first applied the name, and his description 

 is too vague to be of any value where closely allied species are con- 

 cerned. Furthermore, the skulls labeled P. dubius agree with others 

 bearing different names, notably with one called P. brevimanus, of which 

 the external form and color were made known by Hombron and Jacquinot 

 (in Voyage de PAstrolabe, Zool., 1840, pi. 21), and of which the skele- 

 ton and skin are still preserved. In color and number of vertebrae this 

 specimen does not agree with our Pensacola animal, and thus we find 

 that our chain of resemblances will not meet at the ends. The case is 

 the same upon comparing P. frcenatus, P. frontalis, and other species. 

 We are forced, therefore, to fall back on P. doris, the earliest described 

 species with which our specimen can be satisfactorily identified. 



Diagnosis of the species. 

 Prodelphinus doris (Gray) Flower. 



Delphinus Doris, Gray, Zool. Ereb. <fc Terr., 184C, p. 39, pi. xx. 



Delphinus (Cephalorhynchus) Doris, Gray, Cat. Mam. Brit. Mus., Cetacea, 1850, p. 114. 



Turtfio Doris, Gray, Cat. Seals & Whales, 1866, p. 255. 



