44 MAEBTE AXD AQUATIC 



the head, which is comparatively small, and is nod 

 with a row of sharply-pointed teeth in each jaw. The 

 Itatpoise, in feet, is essentially a fish-eater, and thia 

 fact explains its habitual liking for waters which are 

 within easy reach of some coast. As is well known by 

 aU seamen, there are very few fish to be taken in the 

 open sea, and even where fish are found under rorfc 

 circumstances, their presence is generally the indication 

 of some sunken rock which has hitherto v^p^ the 

 observation of marine surveyors. 



Now, as the fish ding to the shores, and as tike 

 Porpoise feeds on fish, it is evident that the 

 must remain in the vicinity of its food. The 

 do sometimes make their way up tidal rivers, and so 

 |inntiair to a considerable distance inland ; but I do 

 not know of any instance where a Porpoise has been 

 observed on the high seam. .: 



As the Porpoise feeds upon the active fish, and 

 can chase and capture even the swift and powerful 

 salmon, it k evident that the structure of the head 

 must be very different from that of the whale. Ac- 

 cordingly, we find that the head is much advanced in 

 front, so as to allow of vision in a sinful line. The 

 jaws and teeth, also, must be very diflerenk 



The fish being comparatively of large raze, when 

 compared with the molloaci on which the whales feed, 

 there is no necessity for so large a head; and accord- 

 ingly we find that it is not larger, in proportion 

 to the size of the body than is that of the lion, the 

 bear, or any other predacious atiinuJ. The m trait 

 lias certainly a wider gape, but nothing like that of the 



