PORPOISES AND DOLPHINS. 



59 



with around the coasts of Britain, but it is much rarer off Scotland than in the 

 south. It is not uncommonly captured in fishing-nets, and examples have from 

 time to time been exposed for sale in Billingsgate market. Like the other 

 dolphins, this species associate in shoals. " The excessive activity and playfulness 

 of its gambols," writes Bell, " and the evident predilection which it exhibits for 

 society, are recorded by every mariner. Large herds of these animals will surround 

 a ship in full sail with the most eager delight, throwing themselves into every 



THE COMMON DOLPHIN (h nat. size). 



possible attitude, and tossing and leaping about with elegant and powerful agility, 

 for no apparent purpose save mere pastime." In the British seas the chief food 

 of this species is formed by herrings and pilchards. The dolphin is said to utter a 

 low murmuring sound. A single offspring is produced at a birth, and is tended by 

 the female parent with assiduous care. Formerly the flesh of the dolphin was 

 eaten in England and other European countries. 



There are several other species more or less closely allied to th 



16S ' common dolphin, although some of them are still very imperfectly 



known. Such are Dussumier's dolphin (D. dussumieri), from the Malabar coast 



of India, and the Cape dolphin (D. capensis), from the Cape of Good Hope, The 



red-bellied dolphin (D. roseiventris), from the Moluccas and Torres Straits, is a 



