THE DOLPHINS. 89 
formation combines great strength with agility — if we exclude its towering upper 
fin, with which the largest are furnished. This protuberance, on account of its 
extraordinary elongation, imparts to the animal a very unwieldy appearance ; and, 
as it vibrates in the air when the creature rolls to and fro, or makes its sidelong 
bounds over the waves, appears to be a great burden, and to require much effort 
on the part of the wearer to keep right-side up. Its two spiracles, which unite in 
one at their orifice, situated above and behind the eyes, are covered by a cartilagi- 
nous valve, which opens and closes on its posterior side at eyery respiration. The 
vapor or spout emitted is "low and bushy," like that of the Blackfish. The animal 
is entirely free from parasites, its scarf-skin being beautifully smooth and glossy. 
Until recently, we were under the impression that the short -finned Killers 
upon the western coast of North America were inhabitants especially of the frosty 
regions ; but recent observations prove that they frequent both the high and low 
latitudes. Indeed, they may be regarded as marine beasts, that roam over every 
ocean ; entering bays and lagoons, where they spread terror and death among the 
mammoth bakenas and the smaller species of dolphins, as well as pursuing the 
seal and walrus, devouring, in their marauding expeditions up swift rivers, num- 
berless salmon or other large fishes that may come in their way. It is well known 
that there are several species of Orcas, incident to their wide geographical distribu- 
tion, which includes every zone and hemisphere ; but those we have described are, 
to our knowledge, found in the waters of the Pacific, in the Okhotsk and Behring 
seas, and through Behring Strait into the Arctic Ocean. The habits of the Killers 
exhibit a boldness and cunning peculiar to their carnivorous propensities. At times 
they are seen in schools, undulating over the waves — two, three, six, or eight 
abreast — and, with the long, pointed fins above their arched backs, together with 
their varied marks and colors, they present a pleasing and somewhat military aspect. 
But generally they go in small squads — less than a dozen — alternately showing 
themselves upon the surface of the water, or gliding just below, when nothing will 
be visible but their projecting dorsals ; or they disport themselves by rolling, tum- 
bling, and leaping nearly out of water, or cutting various antics with their flukes. 
At such times, they usually move rapidly over the surface of the sea, and soon 
disappear in the distance. 
Both the high and low finned Orcas are found in the same school ; yet we 
have occasionally seen those with the lowest and most falcated fins exclusively by 
themselves. Three or four of these voracious animals do not hesitate to grapple 
with the largest baleen whales ; and it is surprising to see those leviathans of 
the deep so completely paralyzed by the presence of their natural, although 
Marine Mammals. — 12. 
