TEE DOLPEINS. 89 



formation combines great strength with agility — if wo exclude its towering upper 

 fin, with which the largest are furnished. This protuberance, on account of its 

 extraordinary elongation, imparts to the animal a very unwieldy appearance ; and, 

 as it vibi'ates in the air when the creature rolls to and fro, or makes its sidelong 

 bounds over the waves, appears to be a great burden, and to require much effort 

 on the part of the wearer to keep right-side up. Its two spiracles, which unite in 

 one at their orifice, situated above and behind the eyes, are covered by a cartilagi- 

 nous valve, which opens and closes on its posterior side at every respiration. The 

 vapor or spout emitted is "low and bushy," like that of the Blackfish. The animal 

 is entirely free from parasites, its scarf- skin being beautifully smooth and glossy. 



Until recently, we were under the impression that the short -finned Killers 

 upon the western coast of North America were inhabitants especially of the frosty 

 regions ; but recent observations prove that they frequent both the high and low 

 latitudes. Indeed, they may be regarded as marine beasts, that roam over every 

 ocean ; entering bays and lagoons, where they spread terror and death among the 

 mammoth balcenas and the smaller species of dolphins, as well as pursuing the 

 seal and walrus, devouring, in their marauding expeditions up swift rivers, num- 

 berless salmon or other largo fishes that may come in their way. It is well known 

 that there are several species of Orcas, incident to their wado geographical distribu- 

 tion, which includes every zone and hemisphere ; but those we have described are, 

 to our knowledge, found in the waters of the Pacific, in the Okhotsk and Behring 

 seas, and through Behring Strait into the Arctic Ocean. The habits of the Killers 

 exhibit a boldness and cunning peculiar to their carnivorous propensities. At times 

 they are seen in schools, undulating over the waves — two, three, six, or eight 

 abreast— and, with the long, pointed fins above their arched backs, together with 

 their varied marks and colors, they present a pleasing and somewhat military aspect. 

 But generally they go in small squads — less than a dozen — alternately showing 

 themselves upon the surface of the water, or gliding just below, when nothing will 

 be visible but their projecting dorsals ; or they disport themselves by rolling, tum- 

 bling, and leaping nearly out of water, or cutting various antics with their flukes. 

 At such times, they usually move rapidly over the surface of the sea, and soon 

 disappear in the distance. 



Both the high and low finned Orcas are found in the same school ; yet we 

 have occasionally seen those with the lowest and most falcated fins exclusively by 

 themselves. Three or four of these voracious animals do not hesitate to grapple 

 with the largest baleen whales ; and it is surprising to see those leviathans of 

 the deep so completely paralyzed by the presence of their natural, although 



Marine Mammals. — T2. 



