468 



OETACEA. 

 {ODONTOCETI. 



DELPHINIDiE. 



DELPHINIDAi. 



Genus Phoccena (Cuvier, 18.27). 



tri iirrii' Charar/cr. — Head rounded, witli no di.stinct lieak ; a dorsal-tiu. 

 Tcelli compressed, spatidate, truncated. Eostrum of skull broad, depressed. 



PORPOISE. 



Phoccena communis (F. Cuv. 



Spcc'ifir C'AarffC^er. — Black, lighter beneath, almost white on the helly. 

 Teeth |5-.?g to ?|-,||. Anterior edge of dorsal-iin with a row of small tubercles. 

 Len.ath of adult 4 to 5 feet. 



Ddphinus phoca-na, Likn.eus, Syst. Nat., I., 10,8 (1766). 



Phoccena comnmnis, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. des Cet., 172 (1838). 



tiihcrcullfem, .T. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 320. 

 iV/'.sv/ of G-reenlanders, Tanihi}-c of Swedes. Local names, Nisack 

 {.Shetland), Pelloch (Scotland), Snifler (Cormmld), Herring-Hog, Hog-fish. 



The Porpoise is the most common of the cetaceans of 

 our seas, and is gregarious, making its appearance in 

 herds of various numbers, playing and tumbling in the 

 water with an agility which rivals that of the Dolphin. 

 Every one who has resided by the sea-side is familiar 

 with the rude unwieldy gambols in which tliese creatures 

 indulge, now pursuing each other in sport, now diving 

 with great force and vivacity after their prey. On the 



