NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 13 



tlie authors above quoted. As Mr. Allen^ holds, and probaljly 

 has shown, all the features belieA'ed to distinguish the western 

 raccoons may be discovered in examination of sufficiently exten- 

 sive series of eastern ones. Dr. Gray's two species are not dilfer- 

 ent, according to that author's subsequent admission. 



Cariacus virginianus, Gray. 



Common, almost to be called abundant in wooded portions of 

 the main land near the coast, and said, upon good authority, to 

 occur in the wooded part of the Banks. During the autumn and 

 winter, venison is not much more expensive than beef, a fact 

 attesting the above statements. 



1 Balaena cisarctica, Cope. 



An individual, which I rather suppose than know to be of this 

 species, was taken in Maj^, 18G9, off Shackleford. It measured 

 about forty-five feet in total length. The fishermen called it a 

 " right whale." Besides this kind, they spoke of two others, that 

 the,y occasionally captured, under the names of "Scrag" and 

 "Humpback" {Agaphilus sp ? and Megaptera sp ?). They usually 

 take two or three each spring. Remains of whales, as the jaw- 

 bones, shoulder-blades, humeri, and especially vertebrae, are strewn 

 abundantly along the beach. 



Delphiuus Sp. 



At least one species of porpoise is very abundant in and about 

 the harbor, and I think that a second, smaller and darker than 

 the other, is of frequent occurrence. They are to be seen at all 

 times, but are most abundant in spring and fall, during the 

 migration of the fish upon which they prey ; and in April and 

 May, during the pairing season, they become especially conspi- 

 cuous in their amatory gambols. The sexual act is frequently 

 witnessed, and may be recognized at a distance by the reversed 

 position of one of the pair, and the smoothing of the surface of 

 the water by the wasted emissions. The great voracity of the 

 porpoises is evident in their pursuit of schools of fish, some of 

 which are often driven out of the water, only to fall back into 

 the open jaws of the pursuers. The animals are sometimes taken 

 for their oil, in nets made especially for the purpose, but are not 



1 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. 8, pp. 182-3. 

 1871.] 



