DOLPHIN (0r. doulphin, Lat. tit/ it/anus. from (:k. 85(X˘/s, iblithis, dolphin). A cetaccan of the family Dclphinidte. eharacteri•ed by the moderato relative size of the head, differ ing in this from the cachalots, and also usually by having numerous simply conical or nearly conical teeth in both jaws, although some of the species those of the upper jaw at an early age. The blow-lode is single. The family Del phinidte includes, along with the dolphin,. black tish. porpoises, grampuses, etc.., many animals which on account of their larger size are com monly called 'whales,' as the beluga, etc. The names 'dolphin' and 'porpoise' are often used interchangeably, but the true dolphins have the snout prolonged into a rather slender beak, which is abruptly separated from the convex forehead, even by a marked furrow: both are fur nished with numerous equal teeth. The species are numerous. and none apparently has a Very wide geographical range. They are voracious animals, and arc said to prey not only on fishes, cephalopods, etc., but even on the \rounded and feeble of their own species, They live in herds, which often delight the voyager in the ocean solitude by their gambols, Gather ing about a ship, they display their agility in a thousand graceful motions, now leaping with curved bodies many feet into the air, then dart ing through a wave with incredible velocity. leav ing a slender wake of whitening foam muter the water; now the thin back-lin only is exposed, tilting the surface like a knife; then the broad and muscular tail is elevated as the animal plunges perpendicularly into the depths.
The common dolphin (.01phinns drIphiN) is found in the _Mediterranean and in the northern \tlantie ticean. It is usually not more than 6 or 5 feet long, but individuals have been seen 10 feet. The body tapers toward the tail, which is and about a font in breadth. The beak is about 6 incite, long, and blow holecrescent shaped. The color is blackish on the hack, grayish on the sides, and satiny white. The female dolphin brings forth a single young at a time, which she suckles and nurse, with great care. The flesh of the dolphin was formerly considered a Tel and sailors still regard the capture of one as a happy event, giving a beef-like alternative to their fare of salted meat.
From the form of its tweak, the dolphin reeeivrs from the Freneh the names of bro d'oir (goose beak) and air rlr nor (sea goose). it was very differently regarded and designated Icy the an cient Creeks, to whom it was !arms klithys (sacred fish). and was invested with many fabulous attributes, and was the subjeel of mane it legends. it was sopposed be peculiarly friendly to men, perhaps because the dolphin emits a peculiar murmuring or suppressed lowing cry. It was sacred to Apollo, who was worshiped at Delphi with dolphins for his symbols. flue figure of the dolphin, there fore, appears on many ancient coins and medals. It is said to have been borne on the shield of 1 lyres; early appeared on the shield of some of the princes of France, and gave its name to one of the fairest of the French provinces, whence the heir apparent of the French throne came to be styled 'dauphin.' It is not easy to account for the hi igh regard in which the dolphin was anciently held; is it altogether easy to explain the very general transference of its name in modern times to the coryphene (q.v.), a true fish, renowned for those changes of color in its dying moments which poets have delighted to celebrate. Similar attributes are popularly given in Brazil to a dolphin (Atalia anianensis), very abundant in the Bay of Rio Janeiro, which the natives assert will bring to shore the bodies of drowned persons. This genus (Sotaha) has Oriental and African species ascending rivers, one (of the Kamerun River) having the nostrils (blow-holes) prolonged into a snout-like process.
The European dolphin is rare on the coast of the United States, but three or four other spe cies occur, one of them, at least, numerously. This is the bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops tursio), which is caught in considerable numbers on the New Jersey coast. Closely allied to this species is the 'black' dolphin (Tursiops ereben nus), which is not quite so large, and is wholly black in color. The spotted dolphin ( !Yodel phinus plagiodon) is occasionally found on our coasts. It is dark slate-color above. and pale or white below, somewhat spotted with slate. See