34 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



braces at least the western coast of North and South America." 

 ( Scammon) . 



Genus PhoCSena CuviER. (Seal like.) 

 Dorsal fin rather small, varying in shape with species; pec- 

 toral fins ovate; rostrum short and broad; teeth i6 to 26, small, 

 compressed ; vertebrae 64 to 98. 



Phocaena communis Lesson. (In common.) 



BAY PORPOISE. 



Head conical ; body fusiform, slender ; front margin of dor- 

 sal fin nearly straight, near margin concave; teeth 26 — 26; verte- 

 brae 64 to 67; above slaty black; below lighter (male) or white 

 (female). 



Length about 1730 mm. (68 inches) ; end of jaw to dorsal 

 fin 740 (29) ; height of dorsal fin 100 (4) ; length of pectoral 

 fin 180 (7) ; breadth of flukes 320 (12.5). 



North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, south to New 

 Jersey and Mexico. Ascends rivers. 



"This peculiar species of Dolphin is the least in size of the 

 entire whale tribe inhabiting the Pacific North American coast. 

 The body of the male is black above, a little lighter below; 

 and while the female is of the same color above, it is lighter on 

 the sides, with a narrow black streak running from, the corner 

 of the mouth to the pectoral, and the lower part of the animal 

 is of a milky whiteness, yet the pectoral and caudal fins are black 

 underneath or of a dark gray. 



"The habits of this animal differ from those of other species 

 found in the open sea or along the coast. Their favorite re- 

 sort seems to be discolored waters between the limits of the pure 

 ocean element and the fresh rivers. They are rarely seen far 

 from either side of these boundaries. They are never found in 

 large schools, but occasionally six or eight may be seen scattered 

 about, appearing on the surface alternately, sometimes singlv, or 



