CORYPILZENA, the Coryphene, in na tural history, a genus of fishes of the or der Thoracici. Generic character : head sloping suddenly downwards, gill-mem brane with five rays; dorsal fin as long as the back. There are 19 species, of which the principal is C. hippuris, the common coryphene. These fishes are commonly known by the name of dolphin, and appear in the Indian and Atlantic seas in immense numbers, frequently following in the wake of and seizing with extreme rapacity whatever is thrown from them at all applicable for food. Indeed, occasionally, on their being opened, their stomachs have been found to contain bard and indigestible substances. They are endowed with ex traordinary strength and vigour, swim with extreme swiftness, and are perpetu ally ht the pursuit of smaller fish, par ticularly the flying-fish, which has not a more mortal enemy throughout the ocean.
They are of particularly rapid growth, a/liOl they are often taken both by the line and net, on account of their estima tion for the table. They are about the length of three feet, and display in the water the most dazzling splendour and the most exquisite combination of colours, particularly azure, green and gold. All j these vanish a shOrt time after the dol phin is taken from the water, exhibiting, however, incessant changes during the conflict between life and death, one mo ment restored to their original lustre, the next fading beyond observation, till at length bloom and vitality are both final ly extinguiShed. During the monotony of an Indian voyage, the death of the dol phin is considered by sailors as fur nishing an agreeable variety, and is, in deed,watched with singular attention and interest.