THE GRAMPUS. 57 



Ferocious disposition. 



the farthest sharp and thick, and which lock into 

 each other like those of the porpesse. The 

 spout-hole is in the top of the neck; the colour 

 of the back is black, but on each shoulder is a 

 large white spot; the sides marbled black and 

 white, the belly of a snowy whiteness. The 

 back fin sometimes measures six feet in length. 

 They seldom appear on our coasts, but are found 

 in great quantities off the North Cape in Nor- 

 way, whence they are termed North Capers. 

 The grampus is of a very ferocious disposition, 

 and feeds on the larger fish. It fastens on the 

 whale like a dog on a bull, till the animal roars 

 with pain. It is so voracious as not even to 

 spare the dolphin or porpesse, and it is said also 

 to devour seals, which it occasionally finds sleep- 

 ing on the rocks, dislodging it by means of its 

 back fin, and precipitating them into the water. 

 From their agility, these fish are not often taken 

 They seldom remain a moment above water, but 

 their eager pursuits sometimes throw them off 

 their guard, and allure them into the shallow 

 waters. In this case the hungry animal fre- 

 quently continues to flounder about till either 

 knocked on the head by those who discover it, 

 or till the tide comes seasonably to it^ relief. 



VOL. V. NO. 31. H 



