THE DOLPHINS. 101 
SECTION VII.— THE RIGHT WHALE PORPOISE. 
Ledcorhamphus borealis, Peale. (Plate xix, fig. 3.) 
The Right Whale Porpoise of the western coast of North America, -in habit 
and form, is nearly the same as the Right Whale Porpoise of the southern hemi- 
sphere ( Leucorhamphus Peronii), but it is not so beautifully marked, in vivid con- 
trast, with pure white and jet black, as the latter ; the former being black above 
and lighter below, with but little of its lower extremities banded with white. The 
LeucorJiamphus borealis is not usually met with in large numbers, and is seldom found 
in shallow bays or lagoons. We have seen them as far south as San Diego Bay, 
on the California coast, and as far north as Behring Sea ; showing plainly, that the 
two species of the same genus have a feeding -ground which embraces at least the 
western coast of North and South America. 
SECTION VIII.— THE COWFISH. 
Tursiops Gillh, Dall. 
This porpoise is larger than the Striped or the Right Whale species, and is 
known by the name of CowQsh. It is longer also in proportion to its girth, 
and its snout is somewhat contracted. Its teeth are much larger, straight, conical, 
and sharply pointed, but less in number. A specimen taken at Monterey, in 1871, 
had |4 ff. The animal also differs in color, it being black all over, lightened a 
little below. This description is based upon two momentary observations — the 
first at San Bartolome Bay, in 1853, and the second in Ballenas Lagoon, in 1859. 
The habits of the Cowfish, as observed on the coasts of California and Mexico, are 
strikingly different from that of the true porpoises. It is often remarked by whale- 
men that they are a "mongrel breed" of doubtful character, being frequently seen 
in company with Blackfish, sometimes with porpoises, and occasionally with Hump- 
backs, when the latter are found in large numbers on an abundant feeding- ground. 
They are met with likewise in the lagoons along the coast, singly, or in pairs, or 
in fives and sixes — rarely a larger number together — straggling about in a vagrant 
manner through the winding estuaries, subsisting on the fish that abound in those 
circumscribed waters. At times they are seen moving lazily along under the shade 
of the mangroves that in many places fringe the shores ; at other times lying 
about in listless attitudes among the plentiful supplies of food surrounding them. 
