WHALES AND PORPOISES 



29 



Glohicephalus melas. The Black Fish, or Pilot or 

 "Ca'ing" Whale 



This rather large dolphin, at least 20 ft. in length when full 

 grown, is nearly black all over, with the exception of a heart- 

 shaped whitish patch on the throat, which is sometimes extended 

 into a narrow whitish strip along the middle of the belly. It is 

 sharply distinguished from the killers by its very globular- 

 shaped head, which has hardly any projecting muzzle. The 

 flippers are long and narrow, especially towards the tip. They 

 are somewhat 

 "falcated " — that 

 is to say, they are 

 very broad near 

 the base, and 

 then curve like a 

 scimitar towards 

 the tip. The 

 number of the 

 phalanges, or small 

 bones, in the two 

 middle fingers of 

 the flippers may be 

 as many as four- 

 teen. The back 

 fin is depressed, 

 and not erect as in the orca. It is long and thick. The teeth 

 are small in size, and mainly confined to the front part of the 

 jaws, never exceeding twelve on each side. 



This whale is of a mild disposition, entirely lacking the 

 ferocity of the killer. It feeds mainly on cuttlefish, though 

 it also devours herrings, mackerel, and other fish of small size. 



The Black Fish is often seen off* the British coasts. In 

 difl^erent varieties or species it is very nearly world-wide in 

 distribution, though it does not extend very far into the Arctic 

 regions. Its most common habitat in British waters is the sea 



Head of Black Fish {Globicephalus). 



