Mammalia.] 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
415 
6. Delphinorhynchus Pernettensis ? 
Delphinus Pernettensis, Blainville. 
Delphinus Delphis, var^ Bonnaterre, Ency. Cetol. 21. 
Dauphin, Pernetty, Voy. aux Isles Malouinesy 99. t. 2. f. 1. 
A head, apparently belonging to this species, was brought 
home and deposited in the collection of the British Museum. 
This animal is very common upon the northern coasts of 
New Holland. 
, Captain King, in his MS^, remarks, that the coasts of 
New South Wales, and the north-western side of New 
Holland, abound in cetaceous animals. Upon the North- 
east Coast, within the reefs, the sea is crowded with Ba- 
Iccna “physalis, Linn., or fin-backed whales, as they are 
called by the whalers, who pay little attention to them, 
on account of the danger of approaching them. His boats 
were sometimes placed in critical situations from these ani- 
mals suddenly^ rising to the surface of the water close to 
them, and lashing the sea with their tremendous fins, and 
their occasionally leaping out of the water, and falling 
down with a crushing weight. Their colour is generally 
of a cinereous hue, but a few were noticed that were 
variegated black and white. The whales of the North- 
west Coast appeared to be of the same species, but of a 
darker colour. At one of the anchorages, near Cape Le- 
veque, (vol. ii. p. 91.), the brig was for a whole night sur- 
rounded by these enormous fish, and the crew in momentary 
dread of their falling on board, the consequence of which 
would have been very disastrous. The noise of their fall 
in the water, on a calm night, was as loud as the report 
of a cannon. 
