154 WHALES AND PORPOISES 



but two or three species exceed 10 feet. The Short-Beaked 

 Dolphin of the Pacific is the most beautiful species. 



The Common Dolphin, 1 of the Atlantic Ocean, may well 

 be taken as the type of the family of true dolphins. It is 

 the species that is most frequently seen and the one that has 

 been longest known. It has a slender, cigar-shaped body, a 

 small head, and its beak is long and narrow. Its length is 

 from 63^ to iy 2 feet, and in color it is dark gray above and 

 dull white below. Dolphins generally feed upon small fish, 

 and at times destroy great numbers of mackerel. 



The Common Porpoise, 2 of the Atlantic coast, is a jet- 

 black creature, blunt-headed, heavy in action, a veritable 

 pig of the sea. It loves to roll about in the breakers, and loaf 

 lazily in harbors and sheltered bays and at river mouths. As 

 before stated of porpoises generally, this animal does not leap 

 from the water, in sheer enjoyment of a "life on the ocean 

 wave," but heaves itself to the surface just high enough to 

 bring its blow-hole out of the water, gives a loud puff or 

 snuff, and then rolls heavily below. 



This porpoise is the species most frequently seen by 

 summer visitors on the Atlantic coast, and in various locali- 

 ties it is variously named. It is known as the Herring 

 Hog, Snuffling Pig, Puffer and Snuffer. Its length 

 seldom exceeds 4 feet 6 inches. It feeds upon fish, particu- 

 larly on species like the herring and menhaden, which run 

 in schools, and is said to be very destructive. Its flesh is 

 very dark, its blood is almost black, and on the dissecting 

 table it reeks of oil. 



1 Del-pki'nus del'phis. 2 Pho-cae'na com-mu'nis. 



