106 3IARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



SECTIOx^ XIV.— THE SQUAREHEADBD GRAMPUS. 



The conflicting descriptions given of this animal forbid an exact delineation. 

 Some observers say it has nearly the form of the Sperm Whale — especially its 

 head, which is square and extremely bulky. Others aver that its mouth, which 

 "lays low," terminates in a short beak, with a high square forehead. Our own 

 observations have been confined to distant views of them from the masthead 

 or from the deck ; yet they have afforded considerable opportunity to note their 

 movements, which are very nearly an imitation of the smaller Sperm Whales. 

 Their spouting and "turning of flukes," which are performed with characteristic 

 regularity, have deceived many an expert whaleman, and repeatedly the boats have 

 been lowered in pursuit of them, the animals having been mistaken for Cacha- 

 lots. The Squareheaded Orampuses, however, frequently remain longer upon and 

 underneath the surface of the water than the Sperm Whales, and seldom, if ever, 

 go in large schools, as do the Cachalots and Blackfish. In this respect they 

 have more the habits of the Orcas. They are said to yield a superior quality 

 of oil, but in small quantity, compared to their size. 



SECTION XV.— THE BROWNSIDED DOLPHIN OF SANTA BARBARA 



CHANNEL. 



Although the knowledge we possess of this dolphin is very meagre — having 

 discovered the animal after the natural history part of this work had been pre- 

 pared for the press — still it is thought advisable to submit a description, however 

 brief it may be. While lying at anchor off the town of Santa Barbara, May 16th, 

 1873, a school of what we took to be the Striped or Common Porpoises, was 

 seen playing around the vessel. Their irregular movements, and the unusual length 

 of time they remained upon the surface of the water, afforded an opportunity to 

 study them. Their forms were apparently the same as that of the Striped or 

 Common Porpoise, except that the dorsal fin is of the triangular shape which is 

 present with Baird's Dolphin, and the color on its sides is brown, while its back 

 is of a dull black ; hence it has been given the provisional name of the Brown- 

 sided Dolphin. With regard to the habits of the animal, we observed one peculiar 

 feature: that of darting through the thick beds of kelp which fronted the shore. 

 Really they seemed to delight in sporting among it, and occasionally one of the 



