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Great pictures of southern rightwhale dolphins! ----

Did you know that this dolphin was already listed in 1851 by Herman Melville in his attempt to classify the whale species (Moby Dick, chapter 32 on "Cetology")? There, he vividly describes this species as follows:----

"BOOK III (Duodecimo), Chapter III (Mealy- mouthed Porpoise). The largest kind of Porpoise; and only found in the Pacific, so far as it is known. The only English name, by which he has hitherto been designated, is that of the fishers - Right-Whale Porpoise, from the circumstance that he is chiefly found in the vicinity of that Folio. In shape, he differs in some degree from the Huzza Porpoise, being of a less rotund and jolly girth; indeed, he is of quite a neat and gentleman-like figure. He has no fins on his back (most other porpoises have), he has a lovely tail, and sentimental Indian eyes of a hazel hue. But his mealy-mouth spoils all. Though his entire back down to his side fins is of a deep sable, yet a boundary line, distinct as the mark in a ship's hull, called the "bright waist", that line streaks him from stem to stern, with two separate colors, black above and white below. The white comprises part of his head, and the whole of his mouth, which makes him look as if he had just escaped from a felonious visit to a meal-bag. A most mean and mealy aspect! His oil is much like that of the common porpoise."----

Paul, San Diego, CA

Mealy mouth? Damn, Herman was rather cutting, eh?

Hi Dave!

Happy to know that you are back on the Espy and what a nice surprise to see my name on your blog ahahh. Well while you where going south toward the cold i was spending some vacantion in a warm country!! I usualy follow you everyday but i miss a couple of days during my trip. Your dolphins pictures are wonderfull and I wish I could have call "crazy jumping dolphin at the bow" like in the old time!

I wish you all the best for that campaing. sail safe, I Hope to sail with you soon and salutation to the rest of the crew

Take care
Nadia
xxx

Thanks for the pictures - they look as if they were painted with the yin & yang symbol!

best wishes to you and all the crew finding the whalers.

Phil

fantastic images. I thought for a minute you'd found a new spcies.

And guess what? Hourglass dolphins were seen from the bridge this morning!

Seeing beautiful creatures like these makes me wonder how anyone could take their life. I mean, they actually 'follow' the boat and jump out of the water just to get attention.

They are clearly a loving species, and it makes me sad to think that people actually take advantage of this and exploit them in the most cruel ways just for a profit.

Hi Guys,Its awesome being able to be part of your on board experience.Wow the Nightwhale Dolphins are truly a slice of heaven I envy some of what you will see on your journey.I still wish I had some of your courage.But I hope in some small way I can do my part whatever that maybe?Thinking of you all daily Merrill and all associated livestock (I have alot of pets)

right now i am studdying Spinner Dolphins for a school report. While i was researching i cam across these pics! The first thing i thought was WOW these look really wierd! so i hd to study them to fins out what they were! they are very cool