152 WHALES AND PORPOISES 
Tue Do.puin.—Few persons cross the Atlantic, of make 
a voyage of half a dozen days in any direction, without see- 
ing a school of dolphins. In fact, it might almost be said that 
every voyage has its dolphins. As a rule, they do not ap- 
pear until passengers have recovered from sea-sickness, and 
are on deck, eagerly scanning the surface of the sea for living 
things. 
To most voyagers, the sudden appearance of a school of 
dolphins is a thrilling sight. Hour after hour the eye scans 
the watery expanse, eager for a sign of life, or gazes with awe 
and fear into the dark, watery abyss below. Suddenly, out 
of the steep side of a green-topped wave leap forth a dozen 
shining, sharp-pointed forms. They seem joyous and full of 
power, like acrobats entering an arena. In sublime igno- 
rance of man’s rapacious nature, they confidently swim within 
twenty feet of the ship’s side. They curve up to the surface, 
frequently leaping clear of the water, arch their bodies, 
breathe quickly, and dive again. For a few yards, perhaps, 
they race along under water, but in plain view, then some leap 
out again. How easily they keep pace with the ship! Their 
mastery of old Ocean is so complete that it is a wonderful 
thing to see. 
Sometimes the animals are so near the ship that the 
species can be determined to a certainty, especially those 
which are marked by light colors. However, it is no disgrace 
to any naturalist to declare his inability to say positively 
what species is alongside. 
Dolphins are particularly fond of playing around the 
bow of a ship; but for some reason best known to themselves, 
