COMMON PORPOISE 



Autumn, when our annual visits are made to the coast, 

 one invariably expects every moment to obtain a better 

 view of the interesting beasts as they roll their torpedo - 

 shaped bodies through the waters of the sea. When 

 following shoals of mackerel, or other fish, it is an 

 engaging sight to watch these smaller cetaceans thus 

 occupied ; but, as has been hinted, one is never satisfied 

 with the observance, and there is always a longing to 

 obtain a better conception of exactly what the creature 



looks like when in its native element. We see specimens 

 occasionally which have become stranded upon the 

 shore, or caught in the fishermen's nets, the owner reaping 

 a small harvest from the pennies he collects as a result 

 of his invitation to see the " Porpus-pig, sir ! " Por- 

 poises and Dolphins belong to the family Delphmida , 

 which contains more species than any other existing 

 Cetacea. All are of small or medium size, having, with 

 one or two exceptions, teeth in both the upper and lower 

 jaws. As a rule, they are frequenters of marine waters, 



but a number tenant estuaries, and make their way up 



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