626 



A HISTORY OF 



bottom in search ot sand-eels, and sea-worms, 

 which it roots out of the sand with its nose, 

 in the manner hogs harrow up the fields for 

 food. For this purpose, the nose projects a 

 little, is shorter and stronger than that of the 

 dolphin ; and the neck is furnished with very 

 strong muscles, which enable it the readier 

 to turn up the sand. 



But it sometimes happens, that the im- 

 petuosity, or the hunger, of these animals, in 

 their usual pursuits, urges them beyond the 

 limits of safety. The fishermen, who extend 

 their long nets for pilchards, on the coasts of 

 Cornwall, have sometimes an unwelcome cap- 

 ture in one of these. Their feeble nets, which 

 are calculated only for taking smaller prey, 

 suffer an universal laceration from the efforts 

 of this strong animal to escape; and if it be 

 not knocked on the head, before it has had 

 time to flounder, the nets are destroyed, and 

 the fishery interrupted. There is nothing, 

 therefore, they so much dread, as the en- 

 tangling a porpoise; and they do every thing 

 to intimidate the animal from approach- 

 ing. 



Indeed, these creatures are so violent in the 

 pursuit of their prey, that they sometimes fol- 

 low a shoal of small fishes up a fresh-water 

 river, from whence they find no small difficul- 

 ty to return. We have often seen them ta- 

 ken in the Thames at London, both above 

 the bridges and below them. It is curious 

 enough to observe with what activity they 

 avoid their pursuers, and what little time they 



require to fetch breath above the water. The 

 manner of killing them is for four or five boats 

 to spread over the part of the river in which 

 they are seen, and with fire-arms to shoot at 

 them the instant they rise above the water. 

 The fish being thus for some time kept in agi- 

 tation, requires to come to the surface at 

 quicker intervals, and thus affords the marks- 

 men more frequent opportunities. 



When the porpoise is taken, it becomes no 

 inconsiderable capture, as it yields a very 

 large quantity of oil ; and the lean of some, 

 particularly if the animal be young, is said to 

 be as well tasted as veal. The inhabitants 

 of Norway prepare, from the eggs found in the 

 body of this fish, a kind of cavier, which is 

 said to be a very delicate sauce, or good when 

 even eaten with bread. There is a fishery 

 for porpoise along the western isles of Scot- 

 land during the summer season, when they 

 abound on that shore; and this branch of 

 industry turns to good advantage. 



As for the rest, we are told, that these ani- 

 mals go with young ten months; that, like 

 the whale, they seldom bring forth above one 

 at a time, and that in the midst of summer: 

 that they live to a considerable age ; though 

 some say not above twenty-five or thirty years ; 

 and they sleep with the snout above water. 

 They seem to possess, in a degree propor- 

 tioned to their bulk, the manners of whales; 

 and the history of one species of cetaceous 

 animals, will, in a great measure, serve for 

 all the rest. 



