86 MARINE 3IAM3IALS OF THE NOBTH-WESTEBN COAST. 



during perfectly calm weather, it is not unfrequent to find a herd of them lying 

 quite still, huddled together promiscuously, making no spout^and seemingly taking 

 a rest. Sometimes they assume a perpendicular attitude, with a portion of the head 

 above the water, as does the Sperm Whale. 



On the 14th of December, 1862, on the coast of Lower California, in latitude 

 31°, land ten miles distant, a school of Blackfish was "raised." The boats were 

 immediately lowered and gave chase, and three fish were taken. The largest one 

 was a male, and measured accurately as follows : 



Ft. In. 



Length 1-5 6 



Depth of body 3 6 



Circumference of body 8 9 



Expansion of flukes 3 6 



Breadth of flukes 1 



Prom end of head to spout-holes l 6 



From end of head to eye 1 4 



From end of head to dorsal fin 4 6 



Length of pectorals 2 10 



Erom end of head to pectorals 2 9 



Extreme width of pectorals 1 



Opening of mouth 1 4 



Length of dorsal fin, along the back 2 



Extreme length of dorsal fin, upper edge 2 4 



Extreme width of dorsal fin 1 



From notch of flukes to vent 5 



From notch of flukes to genital slit 6 



Extension of spout-hole across the head '. 4 



The breadth of the body, just forward of the side fins, was twenty -two inches. 

 The number of teeth on each side of the upper jaw varies from ten to twelve ; in 

 the lower one from eight to ten ; the protruding parts being from one - fourth to 

 three -fourths of an inch in length. The outline of the head shows its shape lat- 

 erally, and also the spiracle, which is of half- circle shape, opening downward 

 as the spout ascends, and closing upward when it has escaped. The jet does not 

 rise above two or three feet, and its direction is at a right angle with the body, 

 when not affected by the wind. From all that we can learn of their breeding 

 habits, they bring forth their young at any time, or in any part of the ocean, as 

 necessity may require. Off the Gulf of Dulce, coast of Guatemala, in February, 

 1853, a fo3tus a yard long was taken from an adult measuring thirteen feet. 

 In the same school from which this female was captured, we saw several young 



