NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



THE COMMON PORPOISE 



{Delphinus delphis) 



This Porpoise or Dolphin inhabits all the warmer 

 seas ; they associate in shoals, and they feed on 

 fishes. They grow to a length of 12 feet. This 

 is the species of Dolphin which is commonly seen 

 gambolling round ships as they plough their way 

 through the ocean. These " Porpoises," as they 

 are popularly termed, may often be seen in numbers 

 of from six to about twenty in our bays. 



One offspring is produced at a birth, and the 

 mother guards it with jealous care. 



BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN 



(Tur stops tursio) 



Rare in Cape Seas. 



ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN 



(Steno rostratus) 



The Rough-toothed Dolphin inhabits the 

 Southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It occurs 

 in the seas around the South African coast. 



226 



