THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 169 



is fast ebbing from bis wound. Two or three of tlie 

 most agile now jiimp into the fore-chains, with tlie 

 end of a rope formed into a runniiig noose ; they 

 hang this down into tlie water, and endeavour to 

 iret the bifTht over his tail ; many trials are unsuccess- 

 fully made to do this, for the frantic motions of 

 the animal render it a very difficult operation ; at 

 length, however, it is drawn over, tightened, and the 

 prey is considered secure. It is now comparatively 

 easy, with the aid of a boat-hook, to pass another 

 rope under the body, just behind the breast-fins, and 

 then he is soon hoisted on deck. I have been as- 

 tonished to observe how very inadequate is the notion 

 one forms of the dimensions of these animals by 

 seeing them only in the water ; an individual that 

 measures eight feet iu length, appearing in water not 

 more than four or five. The muscular power is very 

 great, but is chiefly concentrated in the tail, and, 

 therefore, when the animal is removed from its native 

 element, it is almost helpless, its exertions being 

 confined to the violent blows which it inflicts upon 

 the deck with this broad and powerful organ. In 

 all essential particulars, the Dolphin agrees with the 

 Whale, already described, being of the same order ; but 

 it differs in having an upright fin on the back, and 

 both the upper and lower jaws armed with numerous 

 small, close, and pointed teeth. In one specimen 

 which I saw captured, I counted one hundred and 

 fifty-two in all ; they are beautifully regular, and 

 those of one jaw fit into the interstices of the other. 

 The Dolphin differs from the Porpesse {Phoccuna) by 

 having the jaws lengthened out into a long and 



