PORPOISES AND DOLPHINS 289 



from Newfoundland in a packing-case filled with seaweed. 

 Five weeks elapsed between the animal's capture and its 

 return to its natural element in the Aquarium. That it should 

 have survived out of water for so long is very remarkable, for 

 a day or two is the most that stranded animals usually remain 

 alive when they are cast up on the beach. The animal's own 

 weight when it is out of water is normally sufficient to restrict 

 breathing to such an extent that death quickly ensues. The 

 second White Whale did not live long in the Aquarium, but 

 while it was there it was quite tame and swam round the tank, 

 coming up to blow at regular intervals and being fed on eels, 

 tench and roach. 



Sub-family Delphininae. 



All the remaining species of the family Delphinidae are 

 included in the sub-family Delphininae, distinguished by certain 

 osteological characters, of which the most obvious is that at 

 least the first and second neck vertebrae are fused together. 

 The assemblage of genera and species in this sub-division is of 

 considerable dimensions. Some of the forms are common, 

 well known and well defined, but many of the species are based 

 on few or even single specimens of which the external appear- 

 ance may have been described, or of which nothing may be 

 known except the form of the skull and skeleton. It must be 

 understood, therefore, that in a work of this kind in which we 

 are concentrating on external body characters we cannot hope 

 to have the completeness that may be desirable. A great deal 

 has still to be discovered concerning not only the Delphininae, 

 but the whole Order of Cetacea. 



Genus Orcirius. 



THE KILLER WHALE OR GRAMPUS {Orcinus orca). 

 Fig. 74. 



The Delphininae may conveniently be divided into two 

 groups, of which the one lacks the well-defined constricted 

 beak possessed by the other. The Killer Whale or Grampus, 

 Orcinus orca, is one of the most noteworthy of the first group. 

 Its general body form gives the impression of great strength 



