THE COMMON PORPOISE. 227 



tte flesh is by the Greenlander reckoned a gi-eat 

 dainty ; and in the oil, they find a beverage than 

 which, according to their taste, nothing can be more 

 delicious. 



In some parts of North America the skin of the 

 Porpoise, like that of the Beluga, is tanned and 

 drassed with considerable care. At first it is nearly 

 an inch thick, but it is shaved much thinner, till it 

 becomes somewhat transparent, and is then made 

 into articles of wearing apparel : it also supplies ex- 

 cellent coverings for carriages. 



In Plate xix. fig. 2., along with the common 

 Porpoise, w411 be seen the representation of another 

 variety. This is 



THE PORPOISE OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, 



Phoesena Capensis, Dussumier, Cuvier (R. A. 289), 

 Fr. Cuvier (Mam.), 



Which was first described by Dussumier from an 

 individual taken in the Cape road-stead; where, 

 however, it is not very common. Its length was 

 about four feet ; its colour almost wholly black. It 

 did not appear to swim with much velocity ; the pec- 

 torals are small ; the spiracle is somewhat behind the 



eyes ; the teeth appear to be ^^^-j^-, in all ninety- 

 eight. 



The next species we introduce is by much the 

 largest and most remarkable of the genus. It is 



