THE DOLPHINS. 97 
Color of body, black above, lighter on the sides, and white below ; under side 
of caudal and pectoral fins, black. 
The coating of fat or blubber which covers the Bay Porpoise, is either of a 
yellowish white or pearl color, and in thickness, varies from one -half of an inch 
to an inch and a half. 
The habits of this animal differ from those of other species found in the open 
sea or along the coast. Their favorite resort seems to be in the discolored waters, 
between the limits of the pure ocean element and the fresh rivers. They are rarely 
seen far from either side of these boundaries. Our observation proves that they 
are found as far south as Banderas Bay, and about the mouth of the Piginto 
River, on the coast of Mexico (which estuary is in latitude 20° 30'), and as 
far north as the Columbia River, latitude 46° 10'. In the winter season they are 
seen off Astoria, and in Cathlamet Bay, twenty miles above ; but during the sprbig 
and summer, when the river is fresh to its mouth, and in some instances for miles 
at sea, they leave the Columbia, following in the vein of mixed water. They are 
never found in large schools ; but occasionally six or eight may be seen scattered 
about, appearing on the surface alternately, sometimes singly, or two or three at 
the same instant. Neither do they make those playful gambols and leaps that the 
larger dolphins do, their general habit being to make a quick puff and turn as 
soon as they appear above water, apparently choosing the darkness below rather 
than the light above. It is not from shyness, however, for they are met with 
about roadsteads and harbors, among shipping, and frequently play their odd turn- 
ings close to vessels under way, or at their moorings. By night, when at anchor, 
we have known them to play about the vessel's rudder ; but this may be regarded 
as an unusual occurrence. Sometimes they are seen among the breakers, on the 
bars fronting harbor mouths, darting through or along the crests of the rollers 
as if excited into unusual action by the dashing waves surrounding them. They 
feed upon small fish, and are occasionally taken in the seines that are hauled along 
the shores of San Francisco Bay by the Italian fishermen. The northern Indians 
frequently capture them about the inland waters, during the clear, calm weather of 
the summer months. At such times they come up and lie quite motionless, for a 
brief interval, upon the glassy surface of the water, as if basking ; then the 
wily savage, who is on the watch, silently paddles his canoe within gunshot, 
and fires a ball through the animal's brain ; this, of course, kills it instantly, and 
it generally floats a sufficient length of time to enable the pursuer to obtain his 
prize, which is regarded as a great delicacy, and a time of feasting in his lodge 
quickly follows. 
Makine Mammals. — 13. 
