DOLPHINS AT PLAY 



153 



they evince a decided preference for the out-thrusting bow 

 of a sailing ship, and are not attracted so much by the high, 

 perpendicular cutwater of a steamer, with no bowsprit or 

 jib-boom. 



A swift ocean steamship is not escorted very far, for such 

 a promenade soon becomes tiresome; but I have seen a 



Drawn by J. Carter Beard. 



THE COMMON DOLPHIN. 



school of these interesting creatures circle about a sailing ship 

 and play around its cutwater for half an hour. It is a simple 

 matter for an expert sailor to take a position on the martin- 

 gale-guys of a ship, under the bowsprit, and harpoon a dol- 

 phin; but to me it has never seemed like a fair thing to do. 



In North American waters there are about twelve species 

 of dolphins, most of which are from 6 to 7 feet in length, and 



