542 THE PORPOISE, OR PORPESSE. 
thrown overboard. In the present day, however, the Porpoises are so frightened at the 
paddles and screws, that they remain at a respectful distance from the boats, content 
themselves with keeping pace with the vessels for a course of some miles, and then drop 
astern to rejoin their companions. 
The Porpoise is a very gregarious animal, herding together in large shoals, and 
sometimes swimming in “Indian file” as they shoot over the surface of the sea; just 
showing their black and glossy backs above the water, and keeping such excellent line 
that they seem to be animated by one spirit and one will. 
As might be presumed from the formidable array of sharp teeth with which the jaws 
are studded, and which are so arranged that the upper and lower sets interlock when the 
animal closes its mouth, the food of the Porpoise consists entirely of animal substances, 
and almost wholly of fish, which it consumes in large quantities, much to the diseust of 
human fishermen. Herrings, pilchards, sprats, and other saleable fish, are in great favour 
with the Porpoise, which pursues its finny prey to the very shores, and, driving among the 
vast shoals in which these fish congregate, destroys enormous quantities of ‘them. ~The 
fish are conscious of the presence of their destroyer, and flee before it in terror, often 
PURPOISE, OR PORPESSE.—Phocena communis. 
flinging themselves into the certain death of nets or shallow water in their hope to escape 
from the devouring jaws of the Porpoise. Even salmon and such large fish fall frequent 
victims to their pursuer, which twists, turns, and leaps with such continuous agility that it 
is more than a match for its swift and nimble prey. Not even the marvellous leaping 
powers of the salmon are sufficient to save them trom the voracious Porpoise, which is not 
to be baffled by any such impotent devices. 
The Porpoise seems to keep closely to the coasts, and is seldom seen in mid-ocean. 
It appears to be a migratory animal, as the season of its disappearance from one locality 
generally coincides with its arrival on some other coast. It is very widely spread, 
appearing to inhabit with equal security the warm waters of the Mediterranean, the cool 
seas of our own coasts, or the icy regions of the high latitudes. 
Many of these animals have been found in our rivers, which they have evidently 
ascended with the idea of varying their diet by a few meals on fresh-water fish, or in hope 
of chasing the salmon into their spawning grounds. The Thames was in former days 
noted for the number of Porpoises which have been seen in its waters, one animal having 
ascended the river until it passed London Bridge. It is now, however, a long time since a 
