154 CATALOGUE OF THE MAMMALIA OF 
Section III. MUTILATA, Owen. 
OrvpER I. CETACEA=CETEH, Cuvier. 
Famity I. DELPHINIDA, Gray. 
I. PHOCAANA, Rondel. 
1. P. communis, Lesson. Porpoisr—=Porpressp=Porc-poisson. 
Hoa-FrisuH. SEA-HOG. 
Phocena communis, Gray (Cat. Cet. 81), Delphinus phocena, 
Linn. 
This species is abundant in our seas, associated in small herds, 
and it may often be seen pursuing its grotesque gambols on the 
surface of the water, especially during the herring season 
Wallis says, “the lesser porpess is frequent under the promon- 
tories and in the deep bays upon the sea coast, many of them 
sporting sometimes together on the surface of the waves, rolling 
and rumbling like a parcel of swine, hence it is generally called 
asea swine. ‘The sand eel is its favourite food.” 
Sir Cuthbert Sharp also mentions the “ Porpesse” in his list 
of ‘‘ Cetaceous Animals” found at Hartlepool. 
We have seen it abundantly off nearly every part of our coast. 
Down to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the flesh of this animal 
was highly esteemed, and formed an important dish on state 
occasions. 
II. ORCA, Rondel. 
1. O. euaprator, Bonnat. GRampus (GRAND Poisson). GREAT 
PORPESSE. Ork. Kitier. Bortie noss. | 
Orca gladiator, Gray (Cat. Cet. 92); Delphinus orca, Linn; 
Phocena orca, Wagler. 
This species is not uncommon off our coast, although it is 
much less frequently seen, and not so numerous as the foregoing. 
Wallis says, “the Grampus, Bottle Nose, or Great Porpess is 
sometimes observed on our coast; sixty-three of them came on 
shore at Shoreston, 29th July, 1734, about noon, sixty of which 
were between 14 and 19 feet long, and the other three about. 
8 feet. They were all alive when they came on shore, and made 
a hideous noise, but were soon killed by the country people, who 
