154 WHALES AND PORPOISES 
but two or three species exceed 10 feet. The Short-Beaked 
Dolphin of the Pacific is the most beautiful species. 
Tue Common Dotruin,' of the Atlantic Ocean, may well 
be taken as the type of the family of true dolphins. It is 
the species that is most frequently seen and the one that has 
been longest known. It has a slender, cigar-shaped body, a 
small head, and its beak is long and narrow. Its length is 
from 61% to 714 feet, and in color it is dark gray above and 
dull white below. Dolphins generally feed upon small fish, 
and at times destroy great numbers of mackerel. 
Tue Common Porpotsg,? of the Atlantic coast, is a jet- 
black creature, blunt-headed, heavy in action, a veritable 
pig of the sea. It loves to roll about in the breakers, and loaf 
lazily in harbors and sheltered bays and at river mouths. As 
before stated of porpoises generally, this animal does not leap 
from the water, in sheer enjoyment of a “life on the ocean 
wave,” but heaves itself to the surface just high enough to 
bring its blow-hole out of the water, gives a loud puff or 
snuff, and then rolls heavily below. 
This porpoise is the species most frequently seen by 
summer visitors on the Atlantic coast, and in various locali- 
ties it is variously named. It is known as the Herrine 
Hoc, Snurruinc Pic, Purrer and Snurrer. Its length 
seldom exceeds 4 feet 6 inches. It feeds upon fish, particu- 
larly on species like the herring and menhaden, which run 
in schools, and is said to be very destructive. Its flesh is 
very dark, its blood is almost black, and on the dissecting 
table it reeks of oil. 
1 Del-phi'nus del'phis. P’ cae’na com-mu'nis. 
