THE DOLPHINS. 97 



Color of body, black above, lighter on the sides, and white below ; under side 

 of caudal and pectoral fins, black. 



The coating of fat or blubber which covers the Bay Porpoise, is either of a 

 yellowish white or pearl color, and in thickness, varies from one -half of an inch 

 to an inch and a half. 



The habits of this animal differ from those of other species found in the open 

 sea or along the coast. Their favorite resort seems to be in the 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. Our observation proves that they 

 arc found as far south as Banderas Bay, and about the mouth of the Piginto 

 River, on the coast of Mexico (which estuary is in latitude 20° 30'), and as 

 far north as the Columbia River, latitude 46° 16'. In the winter season they are 

 seen off Astoria, and in Cathlamet Bay, twenty miles above ; but during the spriiig 

 and summer, when the river is fresh to its mouth, and in some instances for miles 

 at sea, they leave the Columbia, following in the vein of mixed water. They are 

 never found in large schools ; but occasionally six or eight may be seen scattered 

 about, appearing on the surface alternately, sometimes singly, or two or three at 

 the same instant. Neither do they make those playful gambols and leaps that the 

 larger dolphins do, their general habit being to make a quick puff and turn as 

 soon as they appear above water, apparently choosing tlie darkness below rather 

 than the light above. It is not from shyness, however, for they are met with 

 about roadsteads and harbors, among shipping, and frequently play their odd turn- 

 ings close to vessels under way, or at their moorings. By night, when at anchor, 

 wo have known them to play about the vessel's rudder ; but this may be regarded 

 as an imusual occurrence. Sometimes they are seen among the breakers, on the 

 bars fronting harbor mouths, darting through or along the crests of the rollers 

 as if excited into unusual action by the dashing waves surrounding them. They 

 feed upon small fish, and are occasionally taken in the seines that are hauled along 

 the shores of San Francisco Bay by the Italian fishermen. The northern Indians 

 frequently capture them about the inland waters, during the clear, calm weather of 

 the summer months. At such times they come up and lie quite motionless, for a 

 brief interval, upon the glassy surface of the water, as if basking ; then the 

 wily savage, who is on the watch, silently paddles his canoe within gunshot, 

 and fires a ball through the animal's brain ; this, of course, kills it instantly, and 

 it generally floats a sufficient length of time to enable the pursuer to obtain his 

 prize, which is regarded as a great delicacy, and a time of feasting in his lodge 

 quickly follows. 



Marine Mammals. — 13. 



