Dusky dolphin, 19th century

Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), 19th-century illustration. This dolphin is found in coastal waters in the southern hemisphere. This specimen was found off Argentina, and here has been named Delphinus fitzroyi, after Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle expedition. This illustration is Plate 10 from the 1839 volume on mammals ('Part II: Mammalia') that forms part of the multi-volume work 'The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle'. This work described the animals collected and observed by the British naturalist Charles Darwin during the survey voyage of HMS Beagle during the years 1832 to 1836. This expedition established Darwin's reputation as a naturalist. 'The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle' was edited by Darwin and published between 1838 and 1843. The volume on mammals was written by British naturalist George Robert Waterhouse.