308 WHALES AND DOLPHINS 



base a streak of pigment extends forwards to the angle of 

 the mouth. 



The teeth are strange, for instead of being conically pointed 

 as in typical dolphins they are spade-shaped, and the genus 

 Phoccena shares this peculiarity with the very closely allied 

 Finless Black Porpoise, Neomeris. Twenty-three to 27 teeth 

 are found on each side of upper and lower jaws, the number 

 visible being commonly 23. The diameter of the teeth at the 

 gum is about a tenth of an inch. 



The maximum length reached by the adult is never greater 

 than 6 feet. 



The Common Porpoise has a wide distribution in the north 

 Atlantic, and has even been described from the Rio de la Plata 

 and off the western American coast, but in the last two localities 

 a different species may possibly be involved. A typical coast- 

 loving species, it is an inhabitant of the North Sea and the 

 Baltic, and its range extends north to the White Sea and 

 Greenland ; it is not unknown in the Mediterranean. On the 

 western side of the Atlantic its distribution extends from 

 Davis Strait to the coast of New Jersey. 



Although commonest off the coast, it sometimes ascends 

 rivers to considerable distances from the sea, having been 

 observed, for instance, in the Thames near Teddington, and in 

 Holland more than 200 miles up the River Maas. 



The Porpoise's food consists mainly of such fishes as herring, 

 whiting and sole. Crustacea, cuttlefishes and even marine 

 plants have been found in their stomachs. Instances are known 

 of Porpoises meeting their death by getting entangled in 

 herring nets and drowning whilst in pursuit of food. 



Pairing takes place in the summer months and gestation 

 lasts for nearly a year. The newly-born young, which are 

 about a half the length of the parent, have seldom been 

 observed before June. An interesting account of suckling has 

 been given to the writer by Mr. C. J. Williamson, Scalloway, 

 Shetland. He states : " Some years ago I had the good fortune 

 to observe a Common Porpoise in the act of suckling a young 

 one which was swimming alongside the mother. I remember 

 the occasion well. My wife and I were walking on a little head- 

 land about two miles from Scalloway, the sea being absolutely 

 calm and still. We both noticed a Porpoise approaching 



