A Tiger of the Sea 



and Eschricht is authority for the statement that this 

 animal, or a specimen twenty feet in length, was seen 

 to kill and eat thirteen porpoises and fourteen seals, 

 the animals being taken from the stomach after 

 capture. 



The long-finned orca is a fury in every sense. It 

 roams the seas, enters bays, follows up rivers and 

 preys upon animal life of all kinds, from whales of 

 the largest size to salmon. It has been known to 

 swim near to rocks in hope of snatching seals or sea 

 lions from their rookeries, and is at times successful. 



Some years ago a whaler in the Northwest had 

 killed a large whale, and had the animal alongside, 

 when it was attacked by a school of orcas. They 

 doubtless were half-starved, and crazed by the scent 

 of blood that extended away a long distance, probably 

 followed it up like hounds, immediately attacking 

 the whale. The men with spades and lances cut and 

 slashed at them, inflicting terrible blows ; yet, despite 

 this, the orcas literally tore the whale from the ropes 

 and carried it off. 



The orcas are very clever and intelligent, a fact 

 illustrated in their method of capturing their prey. 

 They know that the breeding season of the seals in 

 the Northwest is a propitious time for feasting, and 

 assemble promptly and play havoc with both young 

 and old. They even attack animals as large and 

 well armed as the walrus, and show their cunning by 

 swimming far under the ice floes, coming up near 



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