' ORDER CETACEA. ,■ 453 



animal and vegetable substances. They exhibit, however, 

 a peculiar avidity for certain fishes, such as cod, fyc. ; they 

 pursue their victims with the utmost pertinacity into every 

 sea, for all climates are alike to them. They are equally to 

 be found in the Northern Atlantic, and under the Equinoc- 

 tial, near the shores of Western America, along the coasts 

 of China, and in all the African and European seas. 



The Marsouin, Porpoise, or Delphinus Phoccena, is a strik- 

 ing example of the partiality of fortune in the distribution 

 of her favours. While the Dolphin has been the theme of 

 poets and historians, and has been almost exalted to the 

 rank of divinity, this animal possessing the same attributes, 

 the same habits, the same affections, and the same qualities, 

 has received from mariners and fishermen the degrading 

 appellation of Marsouin or Sea-hog. The word porpoise 

 or porpus, has a similar meaning, being a corruption of the 

 Latin porcus piscis. 



This animal is found in the Baltic, near the coasts of 

 Groenland and Labrador, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 throughout the whole of the Atlantic, and in the great Pa^ 

 cific Ocean ; in the Gulfs of Panama, Mexico, and Cali- 

 fornia, near the Gallapagos Isles, and in short, in almost 

 every sea. 



The Porpoises are constantly to be found sporting in the 

 stormy ocean, and traversing its agitated surface with the 

 most complete tranquillity. They cut without difficulty the 

 foaming wave, and when the black tempest appears to con- 

 vulse the sea even to its profoundest abysses, they float 

 upon its bosom with the same security as in the sunny hour 

 of perfect calm. It is to its muscular force and the power- 

 ful instruments of natation with which nature has provided 

 it, that the Porpus owes the astonishing rapidity of its mo- 

 tion, and those wonderful springs and evolutions which the 

 eye can scarcely follow. 



This animal exhibits the figure of a very elongated cone 



