26 GILPIN PORPOISES AND DOLPHINS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



this class as the first type of air breathing warm blooded mammals 

 created. That this species is now confounded with D. delphis by the 

 fishermen of our coasts, and has been described as such by Godman 

 and Jackson, cannot be doubted. Of its habits little is known, 

 though common upon our coasts. The Indians readily distinguish it 

 from Phocoena communis, and care little for its capture, as it yields 

 less oil and is more difficult to kill. Of their relative number with 

 Phoccena in the Bay of Fundy, perhaps half-a-dozen are captured 

 during the season, at Digby Gut, while of the other, pei'haps one 

 thousand. The specimens I have described were small, and no 

 doubt young fish, some individuals going above eight feet in length. 

 The adults may have the marking more decided and teeth more 

 numerous. In its skull and skeleton it so resembles the Genus 

 Lagenorhyncus that I have placed it there and adopted Gray's 

 conjecture of its being the D. delphis of Jackson. 



Phoccena communis, 

 Phocoena tuber culif era, 



Common Porpoise. — Puffin Pig. 



This is by far the most common species inhabiting our shores. 

 They are met with on all our coasts, but mostly along the sides of 

 the Bay of Fundy, especially where it pours its rapid tides through 

 the Digby Gut into the Basin of Annapolis. Here in spring and 

 summer they may be seen in eager pursuit of the gaspereaux and 

 herring, which are running for their spawning and feeding grounds. 

 In this turbid tide they may perpetually be seen rising and disport- 

 ing themselves, unmolested indeed by the fisherman, but keenly 

 hunted by the few remaining MicmacB, who come from the interior 

 and form temporary camps on its rocky shores. 



On the 23rd July, 1874, at the fishing beach, Digby Gut, I 

 examined a large female porpoise, Avhich, with her young one, 

 was freshly brought ashore, both covered and killed by one shot. 



Extreme length 5 feet 1 inch. 



From nose to D. fin 2 " 7 " 



D. fin in height 9 '•• 



