THE GRAMPUS 



(Orca gladiator) 



THIS fierce member of the Dolphin family, the deadly foe of the rest 

 of its kin, is in form very like a huge Porpoise; it is the largest of 

 the Dolphin group, and is often alluded to as a "Whale," for it 

 reaches ten yards in length. Its teeth are large and powerful, but 

 not very numerous for an animal of this family, numbering from ten 

 to thirteen on each side of the jaws. The high back-fin is a charac- 

 teristic point of this creature ; it is sometimes so tall and thin that it 

 droops over at the tip. The Killer, as the Grampus is perhaps more 

 usually called, varies not only in the length of this fin, but also in 

 colour, the light markings differing much in tint and extent. If all 

 the varieties can be regarded as forms of one species, the Killer may 

 be said to be found in all seas ; it often visits our coasts, and some- 

 times comes up the rivers on one occasion a party of three ventured 

 up the Thames nearly to Battersea Bridge, and apparently had the 

 luck to get back safely to sea again. 



In the ordinary way, however, the Grampus haunts the open sea, 

 over which it ranges in packs, seeking what it may devour. It is, 

 indeed, a sort of Sea- Wolf, though to liken it to the Wolf gives no 

 idea of its courage and ferocity it is rather to be compared to the 

 Dhole or Red Dog. Like that animal, it disdains carrion, preferring 

 fresh meat, and that usually of its own killing. It is the only 

 Cetacean which habitually feeds on other beasts, and it is the worst 

 foe of Porpoises, Dolphins, and Seals, which it bolts whole after 

 shaking and crunching their luckless carcases. So much do the Seal 

 tribe fear it that they will rush on the ice, even close to a man, to 

 escape its attacks. Often they fall victims even when they have taken 

 shelter on a floe, for the relentless Killer bears down the piece of ice 

 till the victim is tilted into the water and his ready jaws. 



IL 18T 



