244 The Under-Water World 



be used for commercial purposes Por- 

 poise hide as advertised being really 

 White Whale skin. They are lively 

 beasts, their gambols in midsummer 

 always delighting the seaside visitor, and 

 one recalls Mr. Punch's picture of the 

 seaside pierrot whose audience suddenly 

 about turned and feasted its eyes on a 

 school of these entertaining animals, 

 rather than on the second-hand inspira- 

 tions of the so-called comedian. Por- 

 poises have lived for short periods in 

 aquaria. The last exhibit " Percy " of 

 the Brighton Aquarium covered over 

 10,000 miles in four months. Observa- 

 tions have established the fact that these 

 animals practically never cease to swim, 

 although their rate of travel may vary 

 greatly. The force of " Percy's " spout 

 was considerable, sufficient to dislodge a 

 hat from a human head brought within 

 a few feet of his blow-hole. 



The manatees, dugongs and sea-cows 



