THE WHALES 



69 



The orcas are the most ferocious of all the tribe, toothed 

 whales from eighteen to thirty feet in length. They are 

 literally the hounds of the sea, bloodthirsty and insatiate. 

 They follow animals of all kinds — seals, sea lions, gulls, 

 large fishes, even the huge horse mackerel, and in a body 

 attack the whale and destroy it. One species with a lav- 

 ender band near the dorsal fin is very common in the Santa 

 Catalina Channel, CaUfornia. 



Fig. 46. —The Narwhal. 



The high, enormous dorsal fins of these animals make 

 them conspicuous objects. They are often very curious, fol- 

 lowing boats. Opposite Avalon Bay, some years ago, they 

 gave an exhibition of their prowess which fully justified the 

 sanguinary tales told regarding them. They chased a sixty- 

 foot whale in near shore and killed it. Repeatedly the 

 huge and stricken animal leaped high out of the water, and 

 the party of spectators saw the killers clinging to it. They 

 attacked its lips repeatedly and finally literally tore out its 

 tongue and killed the animal. 



The ferocity of the orcas of all kinds can only be appre- 

 ciated by those who have seen them. A band has been 



