FAMILY DELPHINID.E. PORPOISE, DOLPHIN, GRAMPUS. 241 



other species which periodically visit our coasts. It frequents, 

 often in large troops, the bays and inlets of our coasts, and espe- 



FIG. 122. PORPOISE. 



cially the mouths of rivers ; and occasionally advances to a con- 

 siderable distance up the stream. It is very common in the 

 estuary of the Thames. Its length is from four to eight feet. 

 The Dolphin chiefly differs from the Porpoise in having the 

 muzzle prolonged into a kind of slender beak. It is a peculiarly 

 agile animal ; and often follows ships in numerous herds, execut- 

 ing the most amusing gambols, apparently for no other purpose 

 than mere pastime. The flesh of the Dolphin and Porpoise was. 

 formerly used as food ; but it is rank and oily, and is now seldom 

 or never eaten. The length of the common Dolphin is from six 

 to eight or even ten feet. The Grampus is another animal of 

 this family, nearly allied to the Porpoise, and chiefly distinguished 

 from it by its high dorsal fin. It is very powerful and vora- 

 cious ; and preys not only upon Fishes, but upon the smaller 

 Cetacea. The stories of its attacking the Whale, however, are 

 probably without foundation. The Grampus is less disposed to 

 associate with others of its kind, than are most of the Del- 

 phinidae ; but it is sometimes seen in shoals of six or eight. 

 The Author has known one to keep company with a ship for 

 several days ; swimming round and round it, when it was going 

 through the water at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour, with 

 the greatest ease. Another allied species is the Round-headed 

 Porpoise, or Caaing Whale, which is remarkable for its tendency 

 to associate in large numbers, and for its strong instinct of 

 attachment. It not unfrequently appears on the shores of the 

 Orkney, Shetland, and Feroe islands, and also of Iceland, in 

 herds of from two or three hundred to a thousand in number ; 



