Family 10. DELPHINIDÆ.

Delphinidæ, Gray, l. c. pp. 228, 393; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 4; Flower, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. p. 113.

Head beaked. Teeth in both jaws, conical or compressed, permanent, without any internal lobe, occupying nearly the whole length of the jaws. Back rounded, with a falcate dorsal fin; rarely absent. Skull with the maxilla expanded over the orbit, and more or less turned up on the edges.

“Costal cartilages firmly ossified. Posterior ribs losing their capitular articulation, and only uniting with the transverse processes of the vertebræ by the tubercle. Anterior (2-6) cervical, in most, ankylosed together. Pterygoid bones short, thin, involuted to form, with a process of the palatine bone, the outer wall of the postpalatine air-sinus. Numerous teeth in both jaws (Monodon excepted), sometimes deciduous. Symphysis of mandible short or moderate, never exceeding one-third the length of the ramus. Bones of the skull not raised into a distinct crest behind the anterior nares. Orbit of moderate size. Lachrymal bones not distinct from the jugal. Pectoral limbs varying much in form and size. Dorsal fin usually present.”—Flower.

Tribe I. STENONINA.

Stenonina, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Head beaked, teeth conical. Beak of the skull elongate, slender, compressed. Nasal triangle short. Symphysis of the lower jaw elongate.

1. STENO.

Steno, Gray, Cat. Seals & Whales, pp. 230, 232, 393, 394; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Beak of the skull compressed, higher than broad. Symphysis of the lower jaw long. Marine and fluviatile. “Pectoral fin moderately long, triangular, obtusely pointed at the end. First digit short, without any bony phalange; the second with six, the third five, the fourth two, and the fifth one phalange. The carpal bones all separated by broad cartilages. Scapula oblique, truncated at the posterior angle. Acromion broad, and coracoid rather small.”—Flower.

a. Skull large, solid; the beak compressed, high.

* Teeth large, conical, about two in an inch of the length of the margin of the jaw.

1. Steno frontatus.

B.M.

Steno frontatus, Gray, l. c. p. 233. n. 3; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5, t. 21. f. 7, 8.

Beak of the skull short; the front part thick, high, and blunt. Teeth 24·24, large, two in an inch.

Inhab. Indian Ocean.

2. Steno compressus.

B.M.

Steno compressus, Gray, l. c. p. 233. n. 4; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5, t. 27.

Beak of the skull elongate, compressed, attenuated in front. Teeth 26·26, large, two in an inch (Zool. E. & T. t. 27).

Inhab. South Sea.

Steno rostratus appears to belong to this section.

** Teeth three in an inch.

3. Steno chinensis.

Delphinus chinensis, Osbeck’s China; Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 266.

Delphinus sinenis, Desmarest, Mam. p. 514; Flower, Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vii. p. 151, t. 17, 18 (skeleton).

Vertebræ 51:—C. 7. D. 12. L. 10. C. 22.

Inhab. China, Canton (Osbeck), Formosa (Swinhoe).

b. Skull small, rather spongy. Teeth small, slender, attenuated, about four or five in an inch of the length of the margin of the jaw.

* Beak of the skull elongate, compressed, much attenuated and acute in front. Teeth four in an inch.

4. Steno capensis.

B.M.

Steno capensis, Gray, l. c. p. 394. n. 4**; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. Cape of Good Hope.

5. Steno lentiginosus.

B.M.

Steno lentiginosus, Gray, l. c. p. 394. n. 4**; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5; Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. t. 5. f. 2, 3.

Inhab. India (W. Elliot). Skull, B.M.

1. Steno roseiventris, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 233. no. 2.

Inhab. Moluccas. Skull not seen by me.

** Beak of the skull short, compressed, much attenuated and acute in front. Teeth five in an inch. Flesh-coloured. Fluviatile. Tucuxa.

6. Steno tucuxi.

B.M.

Steno tucuxi, Gray, l. c. pp. 236, 394; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. Brazil, river Amazons, 1500 miles from the sea (Bates).

See also S. (?) fluviatilis and S. (?) pallidus, Gray, l. c. p. 237; same locality, if distinct.

*** Beak of the skull elongate, rather depressed, broad, slightly compressed on the sides. Teeth small, five in an inch. Stenella.

7. Steno attenuatus.

B.M.

Steno attenuatus, Gray, l. c. pp. 235, 395; Syn. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. India.

The beak of the skull flattened (Zool. E. & T. t. 28).

This section is nearly intermediate between Steno and Clymenia.

8. Steno fuscus.

B.M.

Steno fuscus, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5, t. 26. f. 1.

Only known from a fœtus in spirits.

2. Steno? brevimanus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 236.

Inhab. Banda, Singapore. Teeth 36/36.

3. Steno? coronatus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 238.

Inhab. Spitzbergen (Fréminville). Not seen since 1806, and no remains of it in any museum.

4. Steno? rostratus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 238.

Dauphin de Breda, Cuvier, Oss. Foss. vol v. p. 400.

Inhab. North Sea.

2. SOTALIA.

Sotalia, Gray, l. c. pp. 393, 401; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Dorsal fin distinct. Beak depressed, rather longer than the brain-cavity. Teeth slender, conical. Palate flat behind. Pectoral fin ovate, obliquely truncated at the end; hand shorter than the arm-bones. Carpal bones small. Scapula broad. Acromion broad.

Vertebræ 55:—C. 7. D. 12. L. 14. C. 22.

Scarcely distinct from Steno.

1. Sotalia guianensis.

Sotalia guianensis, Gray, l. c. p. 401; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Tursio guianensis, Gray, l. c. p. 257.

Delphinus guianensis, Van Beneden, Mém. Acad. Brux. p. 27, t. 2 (skeleton), tom. xvi. tab. 2. figs. 1 and 2.

Inhab. British Guiana.

Teeth 28 or 29. Pectoral fin very broad: fingers five; the index the longest, the thumb and little finger the least developed. The caudal vertebræ very strong. The first two of the cervical vertebræ united, the five others separate. Sternum in three pieces.

Tribe II. DELPHININA.

Delphinina, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Head beaked. Teeth conical. Beak of the skull elongate, longer than the brain-cavity, depressed, broad, shelving on the sides. Nasal triangle short. Symphysis of the lower jaw very short, sloping. Dorsal fin subcentral, rarely wanting.

a. Beak elongate. Palate with a deep groove on each side behind.

3. DELPHINUS.

Delphinus, Gray, l. c. pp. 230, 239, 393; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Beak elongate. Dorsal fin distinct. Teeth small, slender, five or six in an inch. Fingers elongate, unequal; the second much the longest, 8- or 9-jointed; third elongate, about three-fourths the length; the rest short.

Fœtus and tongue figured, t. 26. f. 2 of Synops. Whales and Dolph.

* Beak of skull twice as long as the brain-case. Teeth 55/55 or 56/56.

1. Delphinus longirostris.

B.M.

Delphinus longirostris, Gray, l. c. p. 241. no. 2; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. Southern Ocean; Cape of Good Hope; Japan; Malabar.

** Beak of skull once and a half the length of the brain-case. Teeth 45/45 to 50/50.

2. Delphinus delphis.

B.M.

Delphinus delphis, Gray, l. c. pp. 242 (n. 3), 396; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5; Reinhardt, Vidensk. Meddel. 1866, t. 1.

Black, sides grey, beneath white.

Inhab. North Sea; North Atlantic; Mediterranean.

Vertebræ 75:—C. 7. D. 13. L. 24. C. 31.

3. Delphinus Moorei.

Delphinus Moorei, Gray, l. c. p. 396, fig. 99; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. South Atlantic.

4. Delphinus major.

B.M.

Delphinus major, Gray, l. c. p. 396; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. ⸺?

5. Delphinus Walkeri.

Delphinus Walkeri, Gray, l. c. p. 397, fig. 100; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. South Atlantic.

Burmeister (‘Anales Mus. Buenos Ayres,’ i. p. 306) erroneously considers it a synonym of D. microps, which is a Clymenia.

6. Delphinus Janira.

B.M.

Delphinus Janira, Gray, l. c. pp. 245, 398; Zool. Ereb. & Terror, t. 23; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5, t. 23.

Inhab. Newfoundland.

7. Delphinus fulvifasciatus.

B.M.

Delphinus fulvifasciatus, Pucheran, Voy. Dumont d’Urville, Mamm. t. 21. f. 1, t. 23. f. 1, 2 (skull); Gray, Cat. Seals & Whales, p. 252.

Inhab. Van Diemen’s Land.

8. Delphinus obliquidens.

Delphinus obliquidens, Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1869, p. 12.

Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1865, p. 177.

Inhab. North Pacific. Bottle-nose.

9. Delphinus pomeegra.

B.M.

Delphinus pomeegra, Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. t. 6. f. 3, t. 8; Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 5.

Inhab. India (W. Elliot) Skull, Brit. Mus.

10. Delphinus Forsteri.

Delphinus Forsteri, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 24 (copied from Forster’s drawing).

Skull not known.

b. Beak elongate. Palate flat behind, without any lateral groove.

4. CLYMENIA.

Clymene, Gray, Cat. Seals & Whales, p. 249; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 237, 1866, p. 214.

Clymenia, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Beak of skull elongate, depressed. Teeth small, slender. Nasal triangle moderate. Dorsal fin distinct. Pectoral fin falcate; hand larger than the forearm-bones. Skull elongate, slender; brain-case spherical; beak slender, elongate, longer than the brain-case; intermaxillaries convex. Teeth small, slender, five or six in an inch. The symphysis of the lower jaw short. The blowers are moderate.

* Beak of the skull twice as long as the brain-case. Teeth five in an inch. Micropia.

1. Clymenia stenorhyncha.

B.M.

Clymene stenorhyncha, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 214.

Clymenia stenorhyncha, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Delphinus stenorhynchus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 396. n. 1*.

Delphinus microps, Gray, l. c. p. 240.

** Beak of the skull once and three-quarters the length of the brain-cavity. Teeth six in an inch. Euphrosyne.

2. Clymenia microps.

B.M.

Clymene microps, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 214.

Clymenia microps, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Delphinus microps, Gray, Cat. S. & W. pp. 240, 395; Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 25.

Inhab. Coast of Brazil.

3. Clymenia Alope.

B.M.

Clymene Alope, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 214.

Clymenia Alope, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 32.

Delphinus Alope, Gray, Cat. S. & W. pp. 252, 399.

Inhab. Cape Horn.

4. Clymenia Styx.

B.M.

Delphinus Styx, Gray, l. c. p. 250.

Clymenia Styx, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 21.

Inhab. West Africa, North Pacific.

5. Clymenia Euphrosyne.

B.M.

Clymene Euphrosyne, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 214.

Clymenia Euphrosyne, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 22 & t. 31.

Delphinus Euphrosyne, Gray, l. c. p. 251; Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 22.

Inhab. North Sea.

*** Beak of the skull once and a half the length of the brain-case. Teeth large, four in an inch. Gadamu.

6. Clymenia gadamu.

B.M.

Clymenia gadamu, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Delphinus gadamu, Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. t. 3 (animal), & t. 4 (skull).

Inhab. India (W. Elliot). Two skulls, Brit. Mus.

**** Beak of the skull once and a half or once and one-third the length of the brain-case. Teeth five or six in an inch. Clymenia.

7. Clymenia normalis.

B.M.

Clymene normalis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 214.

Clymenia normalis, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Delphinus Clymene, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 249.

Beak of the skull once and a half the length of the brain-case, and as long as twice and one-half the width at the notch. Teeth 40, nearly six in an inch.

***** Beak of the skull once and one-half the length of the brain-case, and as long as twice and a half the width at the notch. Teeth five in an inch.

8. Clymenia Doris.

B.M.

Tursio Doris, Gray, l. c. p. 255; Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 20.

Clymenia Doris, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 20.

Clymene Doris, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 214.

9. Clymenia euphrosynoides.

B.M.

Clymenia euphrosynoides, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Delphinus Euphrosyne, Gray, l. c. t. 31 (skull); Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. t. 8. f. 5.

****** Beak of the skull once and one-third the length of the brain-case, and as long as twice and one-third the width at the notch. Teeth five in an inch.

10. Clymenia dorides.

B.M.

Tursio dorides, Gray, Cat. S. &. W. p. 400.

Clymene dorides, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215.

Clymenia dorides, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Inhab. ⸺?

******* Beak of the skull once and one-sixth the length of the brain-case, and as long as twice and one-half the width at the notch. Teeth five or six in an inch. The aperture of the blower large.

11. Clymenia obscura. (Fig. 3.)

B.M.

Tursio obscurus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. pp. 264, 400; Zool. E. & T. t. 16.

Clymene obscura, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215, 1868, p. 147, fig. 1.

Clymenia obscura, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 16 (skull).

Inhab. South Pacific.

Pterygoid bones and hinder nasal opening of skull.

Fig. 3. Clymenia obscura. Fig. 4. Clymenia similis.

12. Clymenia similis. (Fig. 4.)

B.M.

Clymene similis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 147, fig. 2.

Clymenia similis, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Skull like C. obscura, but palate contracted behind; side of pterygoid bone keeled.

Inhab. Cape of Good Hope.

******** ⸺?

13. Clymenia crotaphiscus.

Clymenia crotaphiscus, Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1865, p. 13.

Supraoccipital rounded in profile; diameter of temporal fossa shorter than the preorbital process; beak very flat, two and a half times the breadth at notch; a keel in front of the nasal meatus.

Inhab. Unknown.

14. Clymenia esthenops.

Clymenia esthenops, Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1865, p. 12.

Outline from foramen to crest curved; cranium rounded; temporal fossa much longer than the postorbital process; width of the muzzle at notch two and a half times or less in the length.

Inhab. Unknown.

Var. Width of muzzle at notch nearly three times in the length; triangle long.

Inhab. Unknown.

5. DELPHINAPTERUS.

Delphinapterus, Gray, Cat, Seals & Whales, p, 276; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Beak of skull elongate, depressed. Teeth small, slender. Dorsal fin none. Bladebone very broad, nearly semicircular.

1. Delphinapterus Peronii.

Delphinapterus Peronii, Gray, l. c. p. 276; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, t. 15 (animal).

Inhab. South Atlantic, New Guinea.

c. Beak short, thick. Palate flat behind, without any lateral groove.

6. TURSIO.

Tursio, Gray, l. c. pp. 254, 400; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6.

Beak of the skull only rather longer than the brain-case, conical, convex above, rounded. Teeth large. Skull high. The skull large, thick, heavy, with a high swollen brain-cavity. The beak rather longer than the brain-case, broad, conical, stout, shelving on the sides. Teeth large, 22/22 or 22/25. The blower large. Nasal triangle produced considerably before the notch.

Fig. 5. Skull of Tursio truncatus (♂), adult.

Fig. 6. Under surface of the upper jaw, showing the worn surface.

Vertebræ 62:—C. 7. D. 13. L. 17. C. 25.

Second finger very long; third shorter. Breast-bone formed of three pieces, linear, dilated in front.

1. Tursio truncatus. (Figs. 5 & 6.)

B.M.

Tursio truncatus, Gray, l. c. pp. 258, 400. no. 6; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215, 1868, p. 561, figs. 1, 2; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 6, (D. tursio) t. 10. f. 1.

Tursiops tursio, Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. tab. 34. figs. 3-9.

Inhab. North Sea and Mediterranean. Coast of France and Cette (Gervais).

2. Tursio erebennus.

Delphinus erebennus, Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad.

Delphinus tursio, Cope, l. c. 1865, p. 199.

Teeth. 23/22; premaxillaries forming an elevated rounded ridge.

Inhab. Philadelphia.

3. Tursio Metis.

B.M.

Tursio Metis, Gray, l. c. p. 256. no. 3; Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 18; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215, 1868, p. 362; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 18.

Inhab. West Africa.

4. Tursio Cymodoce.

B.M.

Tursio Cymodoce, Gray, l. c. p. 257. no. 4; Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 19; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 19.

Inhab. River Uragua. Mus. Buenos Ayres.

5. Tursio abusalam.

Tursio abusalam, Gray, Cat. Seals & Whales, p. 261. no. 7.

Tursiops aduncus, Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. t. 34. figs. 1 & 2.

Inhab. Cape of Good Hope (Gervais); Red Sea (Ehrenberg).

Rather larger than Tursiops tursio. Teeth acute.

6. Tursio Eurynome.

B.M.

Tursio Eurynome, Gray, l. c. p. 261. no. 8; Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 17; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 17.

Inhab. South Sea; India?, Bay of Bengal.

7. Tursio catalania.

B.M.

Tursio catalania, Gray, l. c. p. 262. no. 10; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Inhab. North-west coast of Australia.

These skulls are all very much alike.

7. EUTROPIA.

Eutropia, Gray, l. c. p. 262; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Beak of the skull only rather longer than the brain-case. Skull depressed, thick, with the sides rather bent down behind the notch. The beak depressed, broad, rounded on the sides, rather longer than the length of the brain-case; the intermaxillaries flat, rather broad. Teeth small, slender, five or six in an inch.

The skull bears a considerable affinity to the skulls of Phocæna, Neomeris, Beluga, and Monodon in the bending down of the sides.

1. Eutropia Dickiei.

B.M.

Eutropia Dickiei, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 34.

Tursio Eutropia, Gray, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 145; Cat. S. & W. p. 262, no. 9.

Inhab. South Pacific Ocean, Chili.

2. Eutropia Heavisidii.

B.M.

Eutropia Heavisidii, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 215; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Tursio Heavisidii, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 263.

Cephalorhynchus Heavisidii, Gervais, Ost. Cét. tab. 36. fig. 1 (skull).

Inhab. Cape seas.

Vertebræ 65:—C. 7. D. 13. L. 15. C. 30.

The D. cephalorhynchus of F. Cuvier, judging from the figure of the skull given by Schlegel, appears also to belong to this genus.

See Stigmatias (Amblyodon), Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1866, p. 294.

Tribe III. LAGENORHYNCHINA.

Lagenorhynchus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 267; Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. tab. 36.

Lagenorhynchina, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Head attenuated, beaked. Teeth conical. Beak of the skull as long as the length of the brain-case, broad, flat above, edges slightly reflexed and bent up in front of the notch. Nasal triangle elongate. Symphysis of the lower jaw short.

8. ELECTRA.

Electra, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 268; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

The beak of the skull very flat above, with the edges in front of the notches bent up. Teeth-line stopping considerably short of the notch.

* Beak of the skull rather longer (about one-third) than the length of the brain-case. Teeth moderate, four in an inch, those of the lower jaw rather larger.

1. Electra obtusa.

B.M.

Lagenorhynchus Electra, Gray, l. c. p. 268; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 216; Zool. E. & T. t. 13.

Electra obtusa, Gray, Synopsis of Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 13 (skull).

Beak tapering, rounded in front.

Inhab. ⸺?

2. Electra Asia.

B.M.

Lagenorhynchus Asia, Gray, l. c. p. 269. no. 3; Zool. E. & T. t. 14; Gervais, Ostéog. Cét. tab. 36. fig. 6.

Electra Asia, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 14 (skull).

Beak attenuated, acute in front.

Inhab. ⸺?

3. Electra fusiformis.

B.M.

Electra fusiformis, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Delphinus fusiformis, Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. t. 5. f. 1, t. 7 (skull).

Beak broad, and rounded in front.

Inhab. India (W. Elliot). B.M.

4. Electra acuta.

Electra acuta, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Lagenorhynchus acutus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 270. no. 4.

Delphinus Eschrichti, Poelman, Ac. Roy. Belgique, 1864, vol. xvii. t. 1.

Inhab. North Sea.

According to Schlegel’s figure of the skull, it should be arranged in this section.

5. Electra breviceps.

Lagenorhynchus breviceps, Gervais, Ostéog. Cét. tab. 36. fig. 3.

Inhab. ⸺?

** Beak of the skull rather shorter than the length of the brain-cavity. Teeth small, five or six in an inch.

6. Electra clancula.

B.M.

Electra clancula, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 35.

Lagenorhynchus clanculus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 271. no. 5; Hector, Trans. New-Zealand Instit. 1870, p. 27.

Beak of the skull broad behind, once and three-fourths the width of the notch in length. Teeth five in an inch.

Inhab. South Pacific Ocean.

In the Museum of Wellington, New Zealand, a complete skeleton.

ft.in.
Total length51·0
Cervical vertebræ seven, anchylosed01·3
Dorsals fourteen011·5

Lumbar and caudal forty-eight, thirty-four of which have processes, and may be considered lumbars.

in.
Skull:—
Length, total14·0
Length of beak7·5
Width at notch3·5
Width at orbits6·0
Width of intermaxillary at blow-hole2·7
Width at middle of beak2·5
Height of occiput5·7
Length of flappers12·0
Scapula, transverse diameter4·5
Scapula, longitudinal diameter6·5

This specimen was harpooned outside Wellington Harbour, and appears to be the common Dolphin of the coast.

Lower jaws of two others.

7. Electra crucigera.

Lagenorhynchus cruciger, Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. tab. 36. fig. 3.

8. Electra thicolea.

B.M.

Electra thicolea, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 36.

Lagenorhynchus thicolea, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 271. no. 7.

Beak of the skull narrow behind, twice as long as the width at the notch. Teeth small, six in an inch.

Inhab. West coast of North America.

9. FERESA.

Orca (Feresa), Gray, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 77.

The beak of the skull from the notch rather shorter than from the notch to the condyle, depressed, flat above, gradually tapering in front; the width at the notch two-thirds of the entire length of the beak. Lower jaw slender, narrow and thin in front, teeth not reaching the notch.

This reexamination has convinced me, and also, I believe, Mr. Flower, that the skull described under the name of Orca intermedia belongs to a very small species, and is not “the skull of a very young individual, probably of one of the large species,” as Mr. Flower supposed, apparently from the examination of the figure (see Flower, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 425). Indeed, when the animal is known, I should not be at all astonished if it should prove to be a species of Electra rather than of Orca, or perhaps a new genus.

This skull has many resemblances to those of some of the species of Electra; the teeth are much smaller than those of Orca.

1. Feresa intermedia.

B.M.

Orca intermedia, Gray, Cat. Seals & Whales, p. 283; Zool. Erebus and Terror, p. 34, tab. 8 (skull); P. Z. S. 1870, p. 77.

Inhab. ⸺?

This is the skull of a full-grown animal, and yet it is not so large as the skull of a newly born specimen of Orca. Mr. Flower, judging from the figure, believed it to be the skull of a very young animal; but on examining the skull along with me he became satisfied, from the solidity and definite form of the bones, that it is the skull of a full-grown though not aged specimen.

10. LEUCOPLEURUS.

Leucopleurus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 216; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Beak of the skull rather flat above and elongate, bent up on the edge in front of the notch, narrow behind, as long as, or slightly longer than, the length of the brain-case. Teeth-line reaching nearly to the notch. Teeth small, five in an inch. First and second cervical vertebræ united by their bodies, third and fourth by the spinous processes.

Vertebræ 81:—C. 7. D. 15. L. and C. 59.

1. Leucopleurus arcticus.

B.M.

Leucopleurus arcticus, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7, t. 6. f. 3-5 (fœtus), t. 12 (skull), t. 26. f. 3 (tongue).

Lagenorhynchus leucopleurus, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 273. no. 9; Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. t. 36. fig. 4.

Beak of the skull twice as long as the width at the notch. Teeth small, five in an inch.

Inhab. North Sea.

11. LAGENORHYNCHUS.

Lagenorhynchus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 216; Cat. S. & W. p. 272; Synops. Whales &. Dolph. p. 7.

Beak of the skull rather flat above, bent up on the edges in front of the notch, deep, broad behind, rather shorter than the length of brain-case. Teeth-line reaching nearly to the notch, large, three in an inch. First and second cervical vertebræ united by their bodies; the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh free.

Vertebræ 88:—C. 7. D. 14. L. and C. 67.

1. Lagenorhynchus albirostris.

B.M.

Lagenorhynchus albirostris, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 272. no. 8; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8, t. 10. f. 2, t. 11 (skull); Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. tab. 36. fig. 5.

The beak of the skull once and one-half as long as the width at the notch.

Inhab. North Sea, Yarmouth.

Tribe IV. PSEUDORCAINA.

Head rounded in front, very convex, not beaked. Teeth conical. Beak of the skull depressed, broad, scarcely so long as the brain-cavity.

12. PSEUDORCA.

Pseudorca, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

Head rounded, convex; body moderate; dorsal fin moderate, in the centre of the back; arm-bones very short and thick, the humerus rather the shortest.

Triangle in front of the blowers flat. Teeth large, conical, acute, permanent. Pectoral fin falcate. Arm-bone short, broad. Metacarpal bones five, close together. Fingers very unequal, second and third much longer than the rest, six- or seven-jointed; first finger very short, two-jointed; third finger short, four-jointed, rather longer than the first two joints of the third finger. Tooth-line of the upper jaw nearly to the notch; of the lower jaw rather shorter. Lower jaw strong. Symphysis short, about as long as the space occupied by the first four teeth. Teeth large, conical, simple.

Vertebræ 50:—C. 7. D. 10. L. 9. C. 24.

The first to the sixth cervical vertebræ united by their bodies and dorsal processes. Bladebone broad, with large coracoid and acromion processes, which are much nearer together than usual.

* Beak blunt, truncated in front. Pseudorca.

1. Pseudorca crassidens.

Pseudorca crassidens, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 290. no. 1; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8; Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. t. 50. f. 7-17.

Beak about two-thirds the length of the brain-cavity, broad, rather tapering on the sides, truncated in front; teeth 8.

Inhab. North Sea.

** Beak narrow, tapering, and rounded in front. Neoorca.

2. Pseudorca meridionalis.

B.M.

Pseudorca meridionalis, Gray, l. c. p. 291. no. 2, figs. 58, 59; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8; Gervais, Ostéogr. Cét. t. 50.

Beak as long as the brain-cavity, tapering on the side, and rounded in front. Teeth 8.

Inhab. Van Diemen’s Land.

13. ORCAELLA.

Orcaella, Gray, l. c. p. 285; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7.

Head blunt, rounded, very convex. Body moderate. Dorsal fin moderate, more or less behind the middle of the back; the pectoral fin broad. Skull:—brain-case subglobular; beak very short, two-thirds the length of the brain-case, tapering, flat above. Intermaxillary half as wide as beak. Teeth small, conical, 12·12 / 12·12 or 14·14 / 14·14.

1. Orcaella brevirostris.

B.M.

Orcaella brevirostris, Gray, l. c. p. 285; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 7; Anderson’s Icon. ined. (animal and skull).

Phocæna brevirostris, Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. t. 9.

Globiocephalus indicus (part.), Blyth.

Black; body stout; dorsal fin subcentral.

Inhab. Estuaries of the Ganges (Dr. Anderson); Madras (Elliot).

2. Orcaella fluminalis.

Orcaella fluminalis, Anderson’s MS. & Icon. ined.

Dolphin of the Irawady, Anderson, P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 220, 544.

“Body slender, dirty white; dorsal fin more posterior.”

Inhab. River Irawady, deep channels, from 300 to 1000 miles from the sea (Dr. Anderson).

Tribe V. PHOCÆNINA.

Lateral wings of the maxilla shelving down over the orbit. Triangle in front of the blower convex. Teeth compressed.

14. PHOCÆNA.

Phocæna, Gray, Cat. S. & W. p. 301; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

Dorsal fin distinct, in the middle of the back, with a series of small spines on the upper part of its front edge. Teeth all compressed, truncate.

Vertebræ 64 to 66:—C. 7. D. 13. L. and C. 44 to 46.

1. Phocæna communis.

Phocæna communis, Gray, l. c. p. 302; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

Var.? Phocæna tuberculifera, Gray, l. c. p. 304.

Inhab. North Sea.

1. Phocæna brachycium, Cope, Proc. Acad. N. Sc. Phil. 1865, p. 6; 1869, p. 28.

Inhab. Harbour of Salem.

2. Phocæna vomerina, Gill, Proc. Acad. N. S. Philad. 1865; Cope, Proc. Acad. N. S. Philad. 1869, p. 13.

Inhab. North Pacific. The Bay Porpoise.

15. ACANTHODELPHIS.

Acanthodelphis, Gray, l. c. 304; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

Dorsal fin distinct, rather behind the middle of the back. Back, in front of the dorsal fin, with a single, and the upper part of the front edge of the dorsal fin with three series of oblong keeled tubercles. Teeth compressed, front one rather conical.

1. Acanthodelphis spinipinnis.

Acanthodelphis spinipinnis, Gray, l. c. p. 304; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

Phocæna spinipinnis, Burmeister, Anales Mus. Buenos Ayres, vol. i. t. 23 (animal), 24 (skull).

Inhab. Coast of Brazil.

16. NEOMERIS.

Neomeris, Gray, l. c. p. 306; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

Dorsal fin none. Head rounded. Teeth compressed, slightly notched in the middle of the crown. Pectoral fin ovate-falcate. The blade bone triangular, with a large coracoid and acromion process. The forearm-bones close together, linear. Metacarpal bones five, large. The hand rather large; the second and third fingers elongate, nearly equal, as long as the arm-bones, the fourth finger shorter, the first shorter, and the fifth very short.

Vertebræ 63:—C. 7. D. 13. L. and C. 43.

1. Neomeris phocænoides.

Neomeris phocænoides, Gray, l. c. p. 306; Synops, Whales & Dolph. p. 8.

“Delphinapterus molagan,” Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. p. 24, a name given to a manuscript note of Mr. Elliot’s!

Inhab. Indian Ocean; Bengal; Cape of Good Hope; Japan.

Schlegel (Fauna Japonica, Mammalia, tab. v.) gives a detailed figure of the skull, the dorsal vertebræ, the chest-bone, and the fore limb of this animal.

B. Pectoral fin low down on the side of the body. The second and third fingers very long, of nine or twelve phalanges (cf. [p. 63]).