THE DOLPHINS. 407 
The dolphin fishery is one of the most important and lucrative 
occupations of the inhabitants of the Faroe Isles. The species 
chiefly frequenting these islands is the Delphinus globiceps, or 
round-headed dolphin—remarkable for the extreme projection of 
its forehead, which has the appearance of an ancient helmet. This 
dolphin lives in large flocks, headed by one great leader. Lemaout, 
Professor of Pharmacy at St. Brieuc, found seventy cast on 
shore near Paimpol. In 1806, ninety-two were washed on shore 
in the Bay of Scapay, in Pomona, one of the Orkneys. As many 
as three hundred were driven on the coast of Shetland the year 
before. Scoresby has seen a thousand in one single troop. 
No sooner does a fisherman on the Faroe Isles discover a shoal 
of dolphins, than he immediately makes known the fact to the 
inhabitants of the coast by hoisting a particular flag. They 
hasten to the top of the mountain, light a turf fire, and by 
this telegraphic signal, announce the joyful news to all the 
islanders. Columns of smoke float in the air, fires gleam from 
point to point; their number and position indicate to the farthest 
dweller in those islands where the dolphins are to be found. The 
fisherman instantly launches his boat from the shore, his relatives 
and neighbours’ hasten to join him; women make ready their 
provisions, and they eagerly rush on board. To this day, at Thors- 
haven, the capital of the Faroe Isles, there is a commotion excited 
on these occasions, which no stranger would imagine. Women and 
children run wildly through the town, crying out, “ Gryndabud! 
eryndabud !” (News of the dolphin). At this welcome cry, every 
door opens, and every family is in uproar. Each one tries who can 
first reach his boat, who will first spread sail, and whose oar shall 
be the first to cut the wave. The governor and the “ Landfogde” 
hasten also, heading the expedition in their barge, manned by ten 
huntsmen in uniform, and with the Danish flag flying at the mast. 
When all the fishermen are assembled at the place indicated, 
they arrange themselves in order of battle, and advance, according 
as the position of the ground permits, either in a close column, or 
in a semi-circle. They enclose in this barrier the astonished 
dolphins, pursue, and drive them till they reach the end of the bay, 
where the circle closes upon them, and they are captured between 
the boats and the land. On one side, they are attacked by the 
