WHALES AND PORPOISES 



27 



Three specimens entered the Thames in the spring of 1890. 

 They swam up the river as far as Chelsea Bridge, and apparently- 

 returned to the sea without having been killed by a people 

 celebrated for its love of animals. It is more commonly met with 

 at the present day about the Shetland and Orkney Islands and 

 along the east and west coasts of Scotland. The orca is larger 

 than most dolphins. One specimen killed on the coast of Norfolk 

 measured as much as 21 ft. 3 in.'^ The snout is not prolonged 

 into any beak. The gape of the mouth is not so wide as might be 

 supposed in reference to the ferocious appetite and carnivorous 

 (rather than piscivorous) nature of the animal. The teeth are, as 



The Killer Whale (Orca gladiator). 



compared to the porpoise, comparatively few in number, not 

 exceeding thirteen, and usually as few as ten on each side of the 

 two jaws ; but they are slightly curved, pointed, and much 

 larger in size than those of the porpoise or of most dolphins. The 

 longest teeth project as much as three inches from the gum. The 

 coloration of the orca is a bold and eccentric arrangement of black 

 and white, the black, especially over the back, assuming almost a 

 purple tinge. The distribution of black and white is so compli- 

 cated that it is best illustrated by the accompanying drawing. 

 The Killer Whale has rather large flippers, and a particularly long 

 back fin. This, which is situated rather nearer to the head than 



1 The greatest known length of the orca is stated by Beddard to be 

 30 ft. 



