NEW SPECIES OF DELPHINUS. 



81 



and since described and figured by Dr Traill of 

 Liverpool, in Nicholson's Journal, vol. xxii. No. 97. 

 under the title of Delphinus melas. The remark- 

 able length of the pectoral fins or swimming paws 

 of the Delphinus melas, being above one- third the 

 length of the whole animal, is sufficient to separate 

 it from all those hitherto described*. It is worthy 

 of remark, that amongst a great many of Delphinus 

 melas, that were stranded at the same time, the 

 young as well as some of the largest were destitute 

 of teeth. From this and other observations made 

 by different naturalists, there should appear to be 

 no criterion of species by the number and situation 

 of teeth. If we are well informed, the generic 

 characters of Physeter and Delphinus do not hold 

 good ; and, in fact, these should form but one ge- 

 nus. Fabricius and others have declared, that 

 the former have small teeth in the upper-jaw, 

 obscured by the flesh. It has also been said, that 

 some species of Delphinus have been observed 



* There is little doubt of this Delphinus being the same as 

 is described and figured in Cuvier's dissertation on the French 

 species of Delphinus, under the title of Globiceps. The rounded 

 front, and slender pectoral fins, are pretty evident characters ; 

 but the latter are not sufficiently long in the figure. To 

 Dr Leach I am obliged for outlines of the several Delphini 

 figured by Cuvier, by whom, I understand, no mention is 

 made of their teeth ; but none of the figures correspond with 

 that of the subject of this paper. 

 VOL. III. F 



