GILPIN PORPOISES, AND DOLPHINS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 29 



joint one-third of rib distant from sternum ; the spinous processes 

 were short and broad ; the transverse long and pointed, especially 

 at the middle of the body ; the ribs were attached to the transverse 

 processes. The scapula was shaped like a pole axe, with acromion 

 and coricoid processes ; the humerus ulna and radius massed into 

 one bone, and the carpal, metacarpal and phylange bones pre typi- 

 fied by osseous deposits, rather than separate bones. In the 

 Phocoena then we find the short, broad, spinous process, differing 

 from the other genera, but in common with them the rib articulat- 

 ing with the transverse process and jointed in the middle. 



The porpoise probably frequents our coast the entire year. It 

 is seen in early spring and again in December, but is only hunted 

 during the summer months, when they approach the shores in 

 pursuit of the migratory fish , and when only they are fat enough as 

 our Indians say, to repay their capture. At other seasons they 

 doubtless prey upon bottom feeders, on cod, flounder, haddock and 

 hake. They pup in April or early May, and produce one at a birth, 

 which about the end of June is three feet long, or two-thirds the 

 size of the mother, which still suckles it. During pairing time they 

 are exceedingly bold and careless of your approach, seemingly not 

 noticing you as they pursue each other in frolicksome play. In ordi- 

 nary times they rise to the surface about every ten minutes, some- 

 times throw themselves entirely out of the water, but usually make 

 about three rotatory dives on the surface, and then retire below. 

 If you are near you will hear a slight puff or snore. They usually 

 swim in small herds, both male and female — the young beside the 

 mother. Though, doubtless, the fishery of them might be made sys- 

 tematically profitable, and much more oil extracted from them than 

 by the rude Indian way, yet our fishermen have never abandoned their 

 more valuable herring or hake and cod, in their pursuit. It is left 

 for the few lingering descendants of the ancient Souriquois to follow 

 a sport they must have caught from their conquerors rather than 

 received from their ancestors. The ancient Indian had no market 

 for their oils, or iron pots to boil them in, or guns to shoot them. 

 They could obtain food easier than by chasing them with stone- 

 headed lance, hurled from a birch canoe. But however got, it sits 



