THE DOLPHINS. 93 



SECTION" IIT.-THB WHITEFISH, OR WHITE WHALE. 



Beluga, n. sp.? (Plate xviii, fig. 1.) 



Our opportunities for observing this beautiful member of the Dolphin family 

 have been as follows : In the Okhotsk Sea, along the coast of Eastern Siberia, 

 during the summer of 18G2 ; in Plover Bay (latitude 64° 20' north, longitude 

 173° 07' west), September, 1865; in the same place and month, 1866; and in 

 Norton Sound, September, 1865. 



Before entering into the details of its habits and the mode of its capture, we 

 will briefly describe this inhabitant of the far north, as we have seen it, westward 

 of the Pacific American shores ; and whose haunts also include the Arctic Ocean, 

 and the seas of Okhotsk and Behring. The animal, which is distinguished by its 

 uniform light soft hue at maturity, resembles the Leucorhamplius Peronii in its sym- 

 metry of upper contour. Its linear dimensions average perhaps thirteen feet ; 

 although the largest ones considerably exceed that length. Its head is small ; its 

 prominent forehead being protected with a fatty cushion similar to that of the 

 Blackfish. Its short oval and fleshy pectorals are placed more than one -fifth of the 

 length of the whole animal from its muzzle, giving that portion between the head 

 proper and the fins the appearance of a true neck. The opening of its mouth is 

 contracted and curved upward. Both upper and lower jaws are furnished with 

 sharp conical teeth, and among the adults the dental formulce may be put down at 

 V ^, or eleven teetli on each side of the upper jaw, and eight on each side of the 

 lower one. Its diminutive eyes are but little larger than those of the Common Por- 

 poise. The minute orifices which constitute the ears are covered with a sort of 

 scale that quite conceals them. Its spiracle is situated a little behind the angle 

 of the eye. The body is full, and tapers rather abruptly toward the caudal fin, 

 which is broad, and in expansion exceeds that of the Orca, or GloUocephalus. The 

 color of the adults is invariably a yellowish white, while the very young are of a 

 leaden or bluish black ; but as these mature they become mottled, and eventually 

 assume the soft cream -like tinge of the parent animal. This species of the Dolphin 

 family is very rapid in its motions, and its swiftness is brought into full play when 

 in pursuit of the numerous varieties of fishes along the sea shores or up the rapid 

 rivers. When making prey of such bottom fish as the flounder and halibut, it 

 often darts into shallows where it can hardly float ; but, like the California Gray, 

 in this respect, it evinces no alarm at its situation, and makes but little eS'ort to 

 reach a greater depth. The White Whale, like all others of this family, is fond 



