60 THE TRUE DOLPHKN. 



rivers: we now turn our attention to creatures whose 

 most congenial dwelling is in the bosom of the 

 ocean. 



80 admirably are the. beings, of which we are 

 now to treat, adapted to an aquatic life, that they 

 present a similarity of appearance to, and are most 

 commonly confounded with fish, though this resem- 

 blance extends no farther than to the general figure 

 of their bodies, and the modification of structure 

 which fits their extremities for swimming. Lan- 

 guage can scarcely convey an idea of the velocity 

 with which they dart through the water, seeming 

 rather to fly than to swim; resembling an arrow im- 

 pelled by a powerful bow, barely long enough in 

 sight to allow a conviction of its having passed. 

 Of their wonderful celerity of movement, and re- 

 markably playful disposition, we have recently en- 

 joyed many excellent opportunities of observation. 

 Once in particular, on a beautifully clear day, when 

 the sea was so strongly illuminated by the sun as to 

 render objects visible at almost any depth, and our 

 vessel was sailing swiftly before a strong breeze, se- 

 veral of these animals appeared to vie with each other 

 in showing how poor was her speed, compared with 

 their own. As the little troop were merrily gamboling 

 at a short distance from the vessel's side, one of the 

 number would dart immediately in advance of her 

 bow, and swimming with his utmost velocity, would 

 disappear in a straight line before her, and (as the 

 depth at which he swam was not more than three 



