NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 53 



boats and gave chase. On coming up with them they were found to be Fin- 

 backs. One was harpooned, and, although it received a mortal wound, they 

 all "run together" as before. One of the gunners, being an expert, managed 

 to shoot the whole five, ami they were all ultimately secured, yielding to the 

 captors a merited prize. We have noticed more of these whales along the coast 

 during the summer months, and they seem to be more together then ; but, as 

 the opportunities for observing their habits have been much greater at that 

 season of the year, we may have been led into error in this particular point. 

 On the northern coast the FinbaclvS, in many instances, have a much larger 

 fin than those in warmer latitudes, and I am fully satisfied that these are a 

 distinct species, confined to the northern waters. 



We have had but little opportunity to observe the Finbacks that frequently 

 rove about the Gulf of Georgia and Juan de Fuca Strait. Several have been 

 seen, however, in May and June, on the coasts of California and Oregon, and 

 in Fuca Strait in June and July of the present year ; these observations satisfy 

 me that the dorsal fin of tliis, the northern species referred to, is strikingly 

 larger than in the more southern Finbacks. 



Appended is a sketch of one individual of several seen in Queen Charlotte 

 Sound in February, 1865, which is a fair representation of them all. Those I 

 have noticed about Fuca Straits seem to have the back fin modified in size 

 between the extremely small found on Lower California and the one here rep- 

 resented. 



Further investigation, which I hope to have the opportunity of before very 

 long, may settle this question. 



VII. THE DOLPHIN FAMILY. 

 DELPHINID^i:. 



In addition to the Whales which have been described as frequenting the 

 coast, many species of Cetacea of the Dolphin family are also found. Those 

 coming under our observation are known as the Bottlenose, Grampus, Black- 

 fish, Killer, Cowfish, Right-whale Porpoise, Finback or common Porp use, and 

 Bay Porpoise. All these species are covered with a coating of fat or blubber, 

 varying in thickness from half an inch upwards, according to their size and 

 degree of fatness. 



THE BAY PORPOISE. 

 Phoc^ena vomerisa Gill. 



Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1865, p. 178. 



The habits of this animal differ from those of the other species found in the 

 open sea or along the coast. Their home seems to be in the discolored waters 

 between the limits of the pure ocean element and the fresh rivers. They are 

 rarely seen on either side of these boundaries. Our observation proves that 

 they are found as far south as the Valle de Banderas Bay, about the mouths 

 of the river Piginto, on the coast of Mexico, which is in lat. 20° 30^, and as far 

 north as Columbia River, lat. 40° 16''. In the winter season they are seen off 

 Astoria, and in Cathlamet Bay, twenty miles above ; but during the spring 

 and summer, when the river is fresh to its mouth, and in some instances for 

 miles at sea, they leave the Columbia, following in the vein of mixed water. 

 They are never found in schools, but occasionally six or eight may be seen 

 scattered about, appearing on the surface alternately, singly or two or three 

 at the same instant. They do not make those playful gambols and leaps that 

 the other species do, their general habits being to make a quick turn as soon 

 as appearing above water, apparently choosing the darkness below rather 

 than the light above. It is not from shyness, however, for they are met with 

 about roadsteads and harbors, among the shipping, and frequently play their 

 odd turnings close about vessels under way or at their moorings. By night, 

 when at anchor, we have known them to play about the vessel's rudder. 



1869.] 



