507 



DOLPHIN, 



Delphinus Delphis. D. corpore oblongo suhtereti, rosiro atfenu- 

 afo acuta. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. io8. Artedi. Gen. 76. Syn. 105. 



Dolphin with oblong subcylindric body, and lengthened sharpish 

 snout. 



Delphinus. Plin. Hist. Nat. 9. c. 7, 8. 11. c. 37. Bellon. 



Aqnat. p. 7. Rondel. Pise. p. 459. Gesn. Aquat. p, 380. 



Aldr. Pise, p. 701. 703, 704. Jonst. Pise, 218. 

 Porcus marinus. Sibb. Scot. Ann. p. 23. 

 Dolphin. Pennant Brit. Zool. p. 58. 



The Dolphin, as observed in the preceding ar- 

 ticle, bears a great resemblance to the Porpesse, 

 but has a much longer and sharper snout, and the 

 shape of the body is rather more slender. It also 

 grows to a larger size, measuring eight or ten feet 

 in length, and is black above and whitish beneath. 

 The mouth is very wide ; the teeth very nume- 

 rous, small, sharp, and set, as in the Porpesse, in 

 a strait roA\^ on each side of both jaws : the eyes 

 are small, the back fin seated as in the former 

 species, beyond the middle of the back. The 

 Dolphin is found in the Mediterranean and In- 

 dian seas, and seems to be generally confounded 

 by navigators with the Porpoise, having the same 

 general manners and appearance. It preys on 

 various kinds offish, and is said to be sometimes 

 seen attacking and wounding even the larger 

 kind of Whales. It SAvims very swiftly. The 

 appearance both of this species and the Porpesse 

 at sea, is generally considered as one of the pre- 

 ludes of an approaching storm. The prejudices of 

 the ancients were of a contrary cast : with them 

 this animal was celebrated for its supposed affec- 



