WHALE HUNTING WITH GUN AND CAMERA 



The captive porpoises are very lively and keep swimming 

 day and night, rising to blow usually with each circuit 

 of the pool. Being kept in shallow water, they probably 

 breathe oftener than they would in deep water. They often 

 swim under water, belly up, like seals, but never lie upon 

 the bottom or bask at the surface as the latter do. Visi- 

 tors ask whether they ever rest a question not easy to 

 answer. If they do, it is apparently without cessation of 

 forward motion. Nevertheless they are quieter at night 

 when most of the lights are cut off, and do not indulge 

 in boisterous play. 



For a time two of them habitually moved from left to 

 right, while three took the opposite course, but this prac- 

 tice soon became less regular and is apparently breaking 

 up. Sometimes the speed is slow, but more often it is rather 

 rapid. Occasionally they indulge in a bit of racing that 

 makes high waves, the water surging up to the coping of 

 the pool. A porpoise speeding around the pool can make 

 a right-angled turn as quickly as a frightened fish, with- 

 out lessening speed. 



When being fed all regularity of movement is abandoned, 

 and they rush in various directions to seize at the surface 

 the fishes slowly thrown into the pool. This continues for 

 some time after feeding, until all sunken scraps are gleaned 

 from the bottom. All food is swallowed under water. Fre- 

 quently a porpoise will play with a dead fish, thrusting its 

 head clear of the water and throwing the fish from five to 

 ten feet away, when it is recovered and thrown again. Such 

 play may last half an hour, or until the fish is reduced to 

 scraps too small to be thrown. It is not uncommon for 

 two or three of them to be engaged in throwing fishes at 

 the same time and the practice is becoming habitual. 



Several times a day they indulge in very active play, 

 darting with mock ferocity after each other, or leaping 

 quite clear of the water and striking with heavy splashes. 

 They often swim on their backs, with the jaws out of water, 



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