Genus Delphinus — The Marine Dolphins
These are characterised by a convex forehead, with a protruding muzzle which forms a sort of beak; they have teeth in both jaws, numerous and conical, broad and high cranium, nasal passages vertical, no cæcum. They are gregarious in habit, carnivorous and extremely swift, but they must not be confounded with the dolphin of sailors, which is a true fish (Coryphæna hipparis) of great velocity and brilliant colours, which change like rainbow tints when the fish is dying. I have several times in vain tried to catch the fleeting shades with both oil and water-colours, but without success; for within a few minutes they change from the most vivid of greens and blues to a pale silvery grey. The true dolphin, of which we are treating, is the dolphin of the ancients, represented in all the old pictures and sculptures. They have a medium dorsal fin, and the pectoral flippers are about two-thirds longer than the breadth.
No. 260. DELPHINUS PERNIGER.
The Black Dolphin (Jerdon’s No. 142).
Habitat.—Bay of Bengal.
Description.—“Twenty-six teeth on each side above and below, obtuse, slightly curved inwards; of a uniform shining black above, beneath blackish.”—Jerdon.
Size.—Total length, 5 feet 4 inches.
This species was taken in the Bay of Bengal and sent to the Asiatic Society’s Museum by Sir Walter Elliot, but it does not appear to be mentioned by Professor Owen in his notice of the Indian Cetacea collected by Sir Walter Elliot.
No. 261. DELPHINUS PLUMBEUS.
The Lead-coloured Dolphin (Jerdon’s No. 143).
Habitat.—Malabar coast.
Description.—Thirty-six teeth in each side in the upper jaw and thirty-two in the lower jaw; of a uniform leaden colour, with the lower jaw white.
Size.—About 8 feet.
Whether this be the same as or a different species to the next I am unable to say, as the description is meagre, and the number of teeth vary so much in the same species that no definite rule can be laid down on them.
The following are the species named by Professor Owen and collected by Sir Walter Elliot.
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