458 



CETACEA. 

 {ODONTOCETI. ) 



DELPHINIDiE. 



DELPHINlDm. 



Genus Phoccena (Cuvier, 1827). 



Generic Character. — Head rounded, with no distinct beak; a dorsal-fin. 

 Teeth compressed, spatulate, truncated. Rostrum of skull broad, depressed. 



PORPOISE. 



Phoccena communis (F. Cuv.). 



Specific Character. — Black, lighter beneath, almost white on the belly. 

 Teeth |5|:|g to IgiBg. Anterior edge of dor.sal-fin with a row of small tubercles. 

 Length of adult 4 to 5 feet. 



Delphinus phoccena, Linn^tjs, Syst. Nat., I., 108 (1766). 

 Phoccena comrmmis, F. Ccvier, Hist. Nat. des Get., 172 (1838). 

 ,, tuhcrcuUfera, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 320. 

 Nisa of Greenlanders, Tumlare of Swedes. Local names, Nisack 

 (Shetland), Pelloch (Scotland), Sniffer (Cormvald), Herring-Hog, Hog-fish. 



The Porpoise is the most common of the cetaceans of 

 our seas, and is gregarious, making its appearance in 

 herds of various numbers, playing and tumbling in the 

 water with an agility which rivals that of the Doljihin. 

 Every one who has resided by the sea-side is familiar 

 with the rude unwieldy gambols in which these creatures 

 indulge, now pursuing each other in sport, now diving 

 with great force and vivacity after their prey. On the 



