WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Evening Star, Issue 23683, 17 September 1940, Page 8

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In Monday's issue there is an account of the visit of a “school ” of marine mammals to our harbour, which is headed •* Unique Visitors,’ and proceeds to refer to these creatures as “ grampuses.” It certainly would be unique to' find a real grampus visiting the harbour, and still more so if they came in schools, for this animal, sometimes called Risso’s dolphin, is not only extremely rare, having been recorded from our seas only twice, but it is not gregarious, preferring a solitary life out in the open seas, and is not known t.o approach the shore, let alone to enter a harbour with all its traffic. Nor, 1 may add. does it amuse itself by throwing itself into the air during its gambols. No, indeed. Mr Orampus, the sedate, lonely,, shy animal, would feel insulted by being confused with these sociable, acrobatic little chaps, about half Ins size. They are either porpoises or dolphins; and as your report refers to a sickle-shaped dorsal fin, they are presumably the latter. Both go about in schools and approach the shore. However, what’s in a name? These dolphins or porpoises would smell just as sweet by any other name. Just as it is perhaps difficult for a townsman to distinguish a half-bred Leicester from a Corriedale sheep, so a naturalist cannot expect a newspaper reporter to differentiate between these aquatic mammals, especially when seen at a distance. Unfortunately I did not see the account of these interesting visitors till the evening, so that I have not been able to see the animals. It is a pity that an error of this kind has been made, for your report may be copied in other publications and lead to much confusion hereafter.—l am, etc., Wm. B. Benham. September 16.