80 



DESCRIPTION OF A 



nuated snout and truncated teeth, are similar cha* 

 racters to those related of the present species ; but 

 the teeth being distant and not numerous, can- 

 not belong to the present subject. The teeth of 

 the delphinus in question, have a perfectly smooth 

 surface, not irregular, as in the molares of quadru- 

 peds ; they are, indeed, formed with annular marks 

 or faint concentric circles, which are only apparent 

 when closely examined, the central one excepted. 



Upon the whole, I do not find any species of 

 delphinus described, to which this has sufficient af- 

 finity to induce a reference ; and therefore trust it 

 will be found to be a nondescript species. It must, 

 however, be observed, that I have not been able to 

 consult Cuvier's dissertation on this tribe of animals. 



The Delphinus truncatus was captured on the 3d 

 of July 1814, in Duncannon Pool, near Stoke Ga- 

 briel, about five miles up the river Dart. It was 

 killed with great difficulty, resisting the efforts of 

 eight men with spears and guns, assisted by dogs, 

 from nine in the morning till one in the afternoon, 

 when, being partly exhausted by the loss of blood, 

 it was secured in a net, and, after receiving another 

 shot, its throat was cut. When wounded, it made 

 a bellowing like a bull. 



I cannot conclude this subject without noticing, 

 that there does not appear to be the least similitude 

 between this species and the ca'ing whale of the 

 Orkneys, originally described by Mr Neill in his 

 Tour through the Orkney and Shetland islands ; 



