THE GRAMPUS. 231 



"said to be occasionally met with in all seas, though 

 with what truth we cannot determine. 



From the preceding description it will appear 

 that this is a very powerful animal. Sir Joseph 

 Banks communicated to the Count Lacepede the 

 particulars of the capture of one taken in the Thames 

 in 1772. After heing 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 when it came to the surface. 

 So long as it was alive, 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. When 

 pressed with hunger, it is said to throw itself on 

 every thing it meets with, not sparing the smaller 

 porpoises and dolphins : Hunter found a portion 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 

 drive them if possible with its fins 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 



