OBDEB OF CETACEA. 
71 
enormous Bead, which the animal would Rave Rad sucR difficulty 
in raising, wRicR would Rave so mucR increased tRe weigRt of its 
body and clogged its movements, becomes, in consequence of tRe 
oil witR wRicR it is filled, a sort of floating apparatus, of wRicR 
tflis marine creature can, witR tRe sligRtest effort, project into tRe 
air tRe blowing or spouting orifice placed on tRe summit of its 
enormous Read. 
In tRe second tribe of tRe order of tRe blowing or spouting 
Cetaceans, we will mention tRe genera DolpRin, Porpoise, Narwhal, 
and others. TRe common DolpRin* is more prettily shaped than 
most of the other Cetaceans. It seems to be entirely composed of 
elongated cones, almost equal, applied to each other by their bases. 
TRe Read forms the extremity of the anterior cone, and joins on 
insensibly to the body. It terminates in a muzzle, very distinct 
from the skull ; it is flat from top to bottom, and rounded in its 
contour. It has been compared to an enormous Swan’s bill ; the 
sailors often call its Read the Sea- goose. TRe mouth is of a length 
equal to an eighth of the total length of the animal. It is, for 
the rest, well armed, as it contains on each side of its two jaws 
from forty-two to forty-five teeth, sharp, conical and pointed, 
which make from 168 to 180 teeth in all. 
TRe spiracles, or blow-holes, join together and form one single 
opening, situated a little above the eyes. TRe ear is very well 
organized ; and therefore the DolpRin can Rear from a very long 
way off the low groanings of its fellows. Its back is blackish, its 
sides rather grey, its belly white. It has a dorsal fin, pointed, 
and standing up on its back ; flippers, in shape like scythes ; the 
caudal flukes, crescent- shaped, hollowed in the middle, and ending 
each way in sharp horns or points. This fin, and the tail itself, 
can be moved with so much the more vigour as the powerful 
muscles which make it act are attached to the high protuberances 
of the lumbar vertebrae. 
People have always had such a great idea of the strength of 
the Dolphin, that, in the time of Pondelet, it was said of those 
who attempted to perform impossibilities, that they “ wanted 
* It is proper to remark here that the Dolphins (. Delphinus ) of naturalists must not 
he confounded with the fish ( Coryphc&na ) which is so styled by sailors, and which is 
renowned for the brilliancy of its iridescent colours. — Ed. 
