The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 2 of 5] : $b MammaliaWaterhouse, G. R. (George Robert)
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 2 of 5] : $b Mammalia
Waterhouse, G. R. (George Robert)
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Mammals; Zoology
“These animals are exceedingly common amongst the innumerable channels
and bays, which form the Chonos Archipelago. They may generally be seen
quietly swimming, with their heads just out of water, amidst the great
entangled beds of kelp, which abound on this coast. They burrow in the
ground, within the forest, just above the rocky shore, and I was told,
that they sometimes roam about the woods. This otter does not, by any
means, live exclusively on fish. One was shot whilst running to its hole
with a large volute-shell in its mouth; another (I believe the same
species) was seen in Tierra del Fuego devouring a cuttle fish. But in
the Chonos Archipelago, perhaps the chief food of this animal, as well
as of the immense herds of great seals, and flocks of terns and
cormorants, is a red coloured crab (belonging to the family _Macrouri_)
of the size of a prawn, which swims near the surface in such dense
bodies, that the water appears of a red colour. This specimen weighed
nine pounds and a half.”—D.
FAMILY-DELPHINIDÆ.
DELPHINUS FITZ-ROYI.
PLATE X.
_D. suprà niger; capitis corporisque lateribus, corporeque subtùs
niveis; caudâ, pedibus, labioque inferiore, nigris; fasciis
latis duabus per latus utrumque obliquè excurrentibus,
nigréscenti-cinereis, hujusque coloris fasciâ, utrinque ab
angulo oris ad pedem tendente._
DESCRIPTION.—Upper parts of the body black, under parts pure white,
the two blended into each other by gray: extremity of snout, a
ring round the eye, the edge of the under lip, and the tail fin,
black; dorsal and pectoral fins dark gray; a broad gray mark
extends from the angle of the mouth to the pectoral fin; above
which, the white runs through the eye and is blended into gray
over the eye; two broad deep gray bands are extended in an oblique
manner along each side of the body, running from the back
downwards and backwards; iris of eye dark brown. Body anteriorly
somewhat depressed, posteriorly compressed; head conical, arched
above; the lower lip projecting beyond the upper; eye placed above
and behind, but near the angle of the mouth; breathing vent
situated in the same line as the eyes—supposing a circle to be
taken round the head. Teeth slightly curved, and conical; in the
upper jaw twenty-eight in number on each side, and in the lower,
twenty-seven.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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