THE GRAMPUS. 231 



said to be occasionally met witli in all seas, tliough 

 mth what truth we canjiot determine. 



From the preceding description it will appear 

 that this is a very powerfal animal. Sir Joseph 

 Banks communicated to the Coimt Lacepede the 

 particulars of the capture of one taken in the Thames 

 in 1772. After being pierced with three harpoons, 

 it pulled the attached boat twice from Blackwall to 

 Greenwich, and once as far as Deptford, against the 

 tide, running at the rate of eight miles an hour ; and 

 for a long time unimpeded by the lance-wounds 

 which were inflicted v»hen it came to the surface. 

 So long as it Avas aHve, no boat would venture to 

 approach it ; and the dying efforts of this formidable 

 creature were very terrible. It was finally killed 

 opposite Greenwich Hospital. 



The Grampus has the character of being exceed- 

 ingly voracious and warlike. It devours an immense 

 number of fishes of all sizes, and especially large ones, 

 including cod, halibut, skate, and turbot. T\Tien 

 pressed mth hunger, it is said to tlirow itself on 

 every thing it meets with, not sparing the smaller 

 porpoises and dolphins : Hunter found a poilion of 

 a porpoise in the stomach of one which he examined. 

 It is also said to make war on seals ; to espy them 

 on the rocks and ice, when basking or asleep ; to 

 chive them if possible with its fijis into the sea, 

 where they immediately become an easy prey. They 

 are often seen in small herds of six or eight indi- 

 viduals, apparently chasing and amusing themselves; 

 and when thus in company, it is alleged that they 



