1936] MAMMALS OF OREGON 347 



Distribution. Described and drawn by Peale from specimens 

 taken in the North Pacific Ocean about 500 miles off the coast of 

 northern Oregon and from others observed in the water about the 

 ship. 



LAGENORHYNCHUS OBLIQUIDENS GILL 



STRIPED PORPOISE ; COMMON PORPOISE 



Lagenorhynchus oUiquidens Gill, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. Proc., p. 177, 1865. 



Type. Collected in the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco, Calif., by W. P. 

 Trowbridge, United States Army. Cataloged in United States National Mu- 

 seum, October 24, 1855. 



General characters. Size medium for a porpoise, length 7 to 8 feet; snout 

 blunt (pi. 49, E) ; teeth small, 44 to 46 in each jaw; dorsal fin falcate or 

 curved; pectoral fins and tail flukes wider than in Baird's dolphin. Color of 

 upper parts greenish black, with variable longitudinal stripes of dull black, 

 gray and white along sides; lower parts, throat, and belly, pure white. 



Measurements. Total length of adult male, 7.5 feet; weight about 400 

 pounds (Higgins, 1919 p. 157). 



Distribution and habitat. Abundant along the Pacific coast and 

 more numerous in the larger bays and lagoons than in mid ocean. 

 Specimens in the United States National Museum collection from 

 near San Francisco and Puget Sound would indicate regular occur- 

 rence along the Oregon coast. 



General li-abits. Gregarious, often found in schools of a dozen to 

 several hundreds; active at night as well as day, swift in the water, 

 swimming around ships at full speed, jumping clear of the surface 

 or diving in graceful curves that expose the backs and curved dorsal 

 fins. 



Food. Largely small fish, sardines and other of the smaller kinds 

 that collect in schools near the surface. 



Economic status. When fat they yield considerable oil; the flesh 

 is considered excellent food, tender and of delicate flavor, somewhat 

 like beef. 



ORCINUS RECTIPINNA (COPE) 

 PACIFIC KILLER 



Orca rectipinna, Cope, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. Proc., p. 22, 1869. 



Type locality. Coast of California. 



General characters. One of the largest of the dolphin family (pi. 50, A) ; 

 dorsal fin anterior to middle of back, high and nearly straight; head short 

 and heavy; teeth strong, sharp, and conical, 12 above and 13 below in two 

 specimens recorded by Scammon (1874, p. 88). Color usually jet black 

 above and lighter below, but some of smaller size pure white below and 

 variously marked with white stripes and spots. 



Measurements. Scammon says the males may average 20 feet and the 

 females 15 feet in length, the dorsal fin in large individuals rising 6 feet from 

 the back (ibid). 



Distribution. Killers, probably including several forms, are said 

 to range in all oceans. In the Pacific they occur in both north and 

 south latitudes over the ocean, and in the bays and lagoons of our 

 western coasts. Along the shores of British Columbia and Wash- 

 ington the Indians hunt them in canoes. 



General habits. These great dolphins have been called the 

 " wolves of the sea ", the hunters and killers among the whales. 

 While their food consists in part of fish and seals and young sea 



