THE DOLPHIH. ^T 



Section IV. 



Genus IV '^le BolpUti, 



In reviewing the different tribes of cetaceous fillies, we 

 find them, in proportion as they diminifh in fize, grow- 

 ing flill more a6live and voracious. The filhes of this ge- 

 nus, which comprehends in it three different families, tha^ 

 of the dolphin, the grampus, and porpeffe, are ail much 

 lefs in bulk, than the common whale. They have all 

 fins upon the back, and like the refl of the whale kind, 

 they have heads difproportioned in fize to the reft of the 

 body. Each of the three fpecies have both jaws armed 

 with formidable teeth ; for nature has not conferred upon 

 them an extraordinary voracity, without beftowing the 

 means of gratifying it. 



From their great agility, the fiihes of this genus are not 

 fr equently taken. They feldom remain a moment above 

 water ; fometimes, indeed, their too eager purfuits expofe 

 them to danger ; and a flioal of herrings allures them out 

 of their depth. In this fituation, the wretched animal 

 continues to bounce and flounder in the Ihallow water, 

 till it is knocked on the head, or till the returning tide 

 again comes to its relief. The porpeffes are often allured 

 up the I'hanies in this manner, till they are iiirrounded 



with 



