362 
THE MAMMALS OF EGYPT. 
DELPHINIDiE. 
DELPHINUS. 
Delphinus, Linnseus. Syst. Nat. x. 1758, p. 77. 
So little is known of the Porpoises and Dolphins inhabiting the Egyptian waters 
that brief mention only is made of occuriences ; at the same time it is hoped that the 
published announcement of lack of material may stimulate those who have opportunities 
for collecting; to send specimens to the British Museum. 
Dr. J. C. Mitchell, late of the Agricultural College, Cairo, writes in April 1897 :— 
“ Dolphins are found in the lake, but only a short distance inside the sea-entrance, 
at Fort Gemeel, about nine miles from Port Said. The sea-entrance, supposed to be 
one of the ancient mouths of the Nile, has, Avith the channels, an average depth of 
about 5 metres. At about one and a half miles inward the channels, Avhich converge 
at the entrance, lose themselves in the lake called Bahr-el-Gerneel, the depth of which 
is about 2 metres. 
“ I have counted between 30 and 40 dolphins in the channels in the neighbourhood 
of the fort, and occasionally I have seen stragglers in Bahr-el-Gemeel, about five miles 
from the sea-entrance ; but the channels are their chief hunting-grounds, for it is by 
these that the fish leave and re-enter the lake. In summer and autumn the dolphins 
are particularly abundant, as at this time a species of grey mullet leaves the lake in 
shoals to spawn in the open sea. 
“ The dolphins are protected by Government, as by their help the spawning fish are 
driven into the shallow water at the margin of the channels, Avhere they are within 
reach of the fishermen. These dolphins seem to be about 10 feet in length; the 
colour of the back is rarely black, it is often greyish. They bring forth about 
this time of the year [April], according to the fishermen, and I have just seen several 
pairs, parent and young one, swimming together. Formerly the fishermen used to 
catch them and eat portions of them, the black skin and fat beneath it. 
“ I send you a mutilated skull Avhich was cast ashore inside the sea-entrance. 
“Dolphins (a few) are found at the Damietta mouth of the Nile, but I have neither 
seen nor heard of their ascending the river.” 
The skull proves to be that of I), delphis, the widely-distributed Common Dolphin. 
Ehrenberg (Symb. Phys. ii. k) described a dolphin from the Red Sea as follows :— 
“ Del])hinus aduncus, H. & E. Expansus sexpedalis. Pinna dorsi 1 I Capite 
17-pollicari. Rostro depresso elongato, utrinque utrinquesecus 25 dentibus conicis 
validis armato, ad postremos dentes 2" 6^'" lato ad medios 1" 9'", mandibuloe longioris 
