THE DOLPHINS. 101 



SECTION YIL— THE RIGHT WHALE PORPOISE. 



Leucoehamphus bobealis, Peale. (Plate xix, fig. 3.) 



The Right Whale Porpoise of the western coast of North America, In habit 

 and form, is nearly the same as the Right Whale Porpoise of the southern hemi- 

 sphere { Leucorhamphus Peronii), but it is not so beautifully marked, in vivid con- 

 trast, with pure white and jet black, as the latter ; the former being black above 

 and lighter below, with but little of its lower extremities banded with white. The 

 Leucorhamphus horealis is not usually met with in large numbers, and is seldom found 

 in shallow bays or lagoons. We have seen them as far south as San Diego Bay, 

 on the California coast, and as far north as Behring Sea ; showing plainly, that the 

 two species of the same genus have a feeding -ground which embraces at least the 

 western coast of North and South America. 



SECTION VIII.— THE COWFISH, 



TuEsiops GiLLn, Ball. 



This porpoise is larger than the Striped or the Right Whale species, and is 

 known by the name of Cowfish. It is longer also in proportion to its girth, 

 and its snout is somewhat contracted. Its teeth are much larger, straight, conical, 

 and sharply pointed, but less in number. A specimen taken at Monterey, in 1871, 

 had 14 IJ. The animal also differs in color, it being black all over, lightened a 

 little below. This description is based upon two momentary observations — the 

 first at San Bartolome Bay, in 1853, and the second in Ballenas Lagoon, in 1859. 

 The habits of the Cowfish, as observed on the coasts of California and Mexico, are 

 strikingly different from that of the true porpoises. It is often remarked by whale- 

 men that they are a "mongrel breed" of doubtful character, being frequently seen 

 in company with Blackfish, sometimes with porpoises, and occasionally with Hump- 

 backs, when the latter are found in large numbers on an abundant feeding- ground. 

 They are met with likewise in the lagoons along the coast, singly, or in pairs, or 

 in fives and sixes — rarely a larger number together — straggling about in a vagrant 

 manner through the winding estuaries, subsisting on the fish that abound in those 

 circumscribed waters. At times they are seen moving lazily along under the shade 

 of the mangroves that in many places fringe the shores; at other times lying 

 about in listless attitudes among the plentiful supplies of food surrounding them. 



