

CETACEA. 



253 



southern latitudes. The D. Borealis inhabits the North Pacific. 

 (See Peale's description in the U. S. Exploring Expedition.) 



GloUceplialus. (Globe-headed.) This contains five species, 

 viz. : G. Swineval, Pilot- Whale, (North Sea;) G. intermedius, 

 the Black Fish, (N. America ;) G. affinis, Smaller Pilot- Whale, 

 (locality unknown;) G. Sieboldii, Naiso Gota, (coast of Japan;) 

 G. macrorhync hus, South Sea Black Fish. They are character- 

 ized by the absence of a snout, by having a globular head, an 

 eminence resembling a fin on the back, and a single spiracle, sit- 

 uated near the back of the head. The length varies from six- 

 teen to twenty-four feet; the pectoral fins are from six to eight 

 feet, and the tail five feet in length. The second species resem- 

 bles the Grampus in size, and is probably often confounded with 

 it. The teeth am from twenty to twenty-eight in number in each 

 jaw, and when the mouth is closed, they " shut together like a rat- 

 trap." It is called the Deductor. With blind confidence, these 

 animals follow one as a leader, the main body keeping close to him, 

 " as sheep follow the wether." Efforts are therefore made to en- 

 trap the leaders, and then many others are taken. They are in- 

 offensive, and so timid that men in boats, with ineffective weapons, 

 and with shouts and noise in the water, drive them in great num- 

 bers to the shore, to their own destruction. When any one 

 strikes the ground, it is said that it sets up a howling' cry, and 

 immediately others crowd to the spot as if for its relief. This 

 circumstance has given it the name of theca'ing (calling) whale. 

 It is also called the Black Whale Fish, (species G. inlermedius, 

 or melas,) and Bottle-head. Of all the Cetacea it is the most so- 

 ciable, vast numbers being found together, whence it is named 

 the Social Whale. Large herds *of these whales are fre- 

 quently stranded and perish on the coast, particularly in high 

 northern latitudes. "At Wellfleet, near Cape Cod, in 1822, a 

 herd of one hundred, varying in length from ten to fifteen feet, 

 were stranded and captured. In 1823, one was taken in Salern 

 harbor, Mass. ; in 1832, one at Fairfield Beach, Conn. ; in 1834, 

 two on the east end of Long Island." (Nat. His. S. N. Y.) 



II. CATODONTID^E. (Gr. HT, kata, under ; odovg, odous, a tooth ;) 

 or PHYSETERID^E, (Gr. cpvcnjTfy, Phuseter, a blow-pipe, or 

 bellows.) TOOTHED WHALES. 



This family of the Cetacea are distinguished by the enormous 

 size of the head, which occupies more than one-third of the whole 

 bulk of the animal, and ends in a broad muzzle, appearing as 

 though it had been abruptly cut off. The lower jaw is narrow, 



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