THE COMMON DOLPHIN.

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among the ice-bays round the polar circles, in the climates of the temperate zones, and under the vertical sun of the equatorial seas.

They are predatory animals, and pursue, with avidity, various species of fish, but particularly Cod, Herrings, and Flat-fish. In some countries they are known to follow the shoals of Mullets, sometimes even into the nets of the fisherman. Their motions in the water are performed with such wonderful rapidity, that the French sailors frequently call the Dolphin la fléche de la mer, or "the sea-arrow," and Rondelet says, that persons who tormented themselves to do what was considered impossible, were often proverbially compared to those who would hold a Dolphin by the tail. M. de Saint Pierre, in his voyage to the Isle of France, assures us that he saw a Dolphin swim, with apparent ease, round the vessel in which he was sailing, though it was going at the rate of six miles an hour. A shoal of these animals followed the ships of Sir Richard Hawkins upwards of a thousand leagues. They were known to be the same by the wounds they occasionally received from the sailors. Dolphins are greedy of almost any kind of scraps that are thrown overboard; and consequently are often to be caught by means of large iron hooks, baited with pieces of fish or garbage. They are fond of swimming round casks or logs of wood, which they find driving in the sea. They generally swim in troops, and their progressive motion in the water somewhat resembles the undulating motion of a ship under sail. Their evolutions and gambols on the surface of the ocean, sometimes afford a most interesting and entertaining spectacle. By curving their body, and suddenly extending it, like Salmon and some other kinds of fish, they are enabled to leap to a very considerable height above the surface of the water. When they are in eager pursuit of prey, and sometimes even in their gambols, these leaps have been repeated with such astonishing celerity, that it is scarcely possible to conceive how, in such short intervals, the necessary force could be impressed. They have been known, on these occasions, to spring forward to a distance of more than twenty feet at a single bound.

The Dolphin was in great repute among the ancients, and both philosophers and historians seem to have contended who should relate the greatest absurdities respecting this animal. It was consecrated to the gods, was celebrated for its love of the human race, and was honored with the title of the Sacred Fish. In all cases of shipwreck the Dolphin was believed to be in waiting, to rescue and carry on shore the unfortunate mariners. Arion, the musician, when thrown overboard by the pirates, is said to have been indebted for his life to one of these animals.

How these absurd tales originated, it is impossible even to conjecture; for Dolphins certainly exhibit no marks of peculiar attachment to mankind. If they attend on vessels navigating the ocean, it is in expectation of plunder, and not of rendering assistance in cases of distress. By the seamen of the present day they are held rather in abhorrence than esteem; for their frolics on the surface of the water are almost the sure signs of an approaching gale.

The flesh of these animals was formerly held in great esteem; it is, however, very dry and insipid: the best parts are those near the head.

THE PORPOISE.

The Porpoise is well known in all the European seas. In its

general form it very much resembles the Dolphin; it is, however, somewhat less in size and has a snout both much broader and shorter. It is generally from six to seven feet in length; thick in the fore parts, and gradually tapering towards the tail. The color is either a bluish black, or a very dark brown above, and nearly white beneath.

PORPOISE.

This animal has a great resemblance to the Dolphin, both in its general external appearance, and in its habits of life. It has the same qualities, and even the same affections, and yet how different has been its general estimation with mankind! The Dolphin was consecrated to the gods, and the Porpoise has, in nearly all languages, been degraded by the appellation of Sea-hog. But the Dolphin is indebted for its high repute to the vivid imaginations of the Grecian poets, whilst the Porpoise, almost unknown to the ancients, has received its name from sailors and fishermen. In the naturalist, however, they excite equal interest, and from him they are deserving of equal

attention.

It is seldom that Porpoises are seen except in troops of from six or seven, to thirty and upwards, in number. The great size of their caudal fin, and the strong muscles of their tail, contribute to render them very active in the water; along the surface of which, like the Dolphins, they sometimes move with surprising rapidity. They frequently gambol about on the water with great vivacity. Their appearance is believed by seamen to be prognosticative of approaching storms; and, on that account, they are held in great detestation. During the most tempestuous weather they are able to surmount the waves, and to pass along the agitated surface of the ocean, fearless of danger, and secure from injury.

They feed on nearly all kinds of fish, but particularly on such as swim in large shoals; as Mackerel, Herrings, and Cod of different kinds, which they pursue with astonishing voracity. But not only do they seek for prey near the surface of the water: they also occasionally descend to the bottom, and root about among the sand and mud, for flat-fish and marine worms. We are informed, likewise, that whenever a Porpoise happens to be wounded, all the rest of the troop will immediately attack and devour it.

The females seldom produce more than one young-one at a birth. The period of gestation, according to Anderson, is only six months; but according to Aristotle, it is ten months, which seems much the

most probable. The offspring are said to continue with the mother for nearly a year after they come into the world. In the river St. Lawrence, in Canada, these animals, are very numerous, and, as they there generally frequent the shoal-water in search of prey, the natives adopt the following method of catching them. When the fishing-season arrives, the people collect together a great number of sallow twigs, or slender branches of other trees, and stick them firmly into the sandbanks of the river, which at low water are left dry: this is done on the side towards the river, forming a long line of twigs at moderate distances, which at the upper end is connected with the shore, an opening being left at the lower end, that the Porpoises may enter. As the tide rises, it covers the twigs so as to keep them out of sight: the Porpoise, in quest of his prey, gets within the line, where he continues his chase till he finds, by the ebbing of the tide, that it is time to retire into deep water. He now makes towards the river; but the twigs being then in part above water, and being all agitated by the current, he no sooner sees them shaking about, than he takes fright, and retreats backward as far as he can, from this tremendous rampart. The tide still continuing to ebb, he returns time after time; but, not being able to overcome his dread of these terrific twigs, he rolls about until he is deserted by the water; when those who placed the snare rush out in numbers, properly armed, and in this defenceless state overpower him with ease. In this manner more than hundred of these huge creatures (one of which will yield about a hogshead of oil) have been killed at a single tide.

The Porpoise was once considered a sumptu. ous article of food, and is said to have been occasionally introduced at the tables of the old English nobility. It was eaten with a sauce composed of sugar, vinegar, and crumbs of bread. It is, however, now generally neglected, even by the sailors.

SKELETON OF A PORPOISE.

In America, the skin of this animal is tanned and dressed with considerable care. At first it is nearly an inch thick; but it is shaved down till it is quite thin, and becomes somewhat transparent. It is made, by the inhabitants, into waistcoats and breeches; and is said also to make an excellent covering for carriages.

THE GRAMPUS.

The length of this animal is usually from twenty to twenty-five feet.

GRAMPUS.

In its general form and color it much resembles the rest of its tribe; but the lower jaw is considerably wider than the upper, and the body, in proportion, is somewhat broader and more deep. The back fin sometimes measures six feet in length.

It is found in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in both the Northern and Southern Oceans.

The Grampus is a decided and inveterate enemy to the different species of Whales; great flocks of them attack the largest of these, fastening around them like so many bull-dogs, making them roar out with pain, and frequently killing and devouring them. They are also said to attack and devour the Seals, which they occasionally find sleeping on the rocks; dislodging them by means of their back fin, and thus precipitating them into the water.

Their agility is such, that these animals are not often caught. They seldom remain more than a moment above the surface of the ocean; but their eager pursuit sometimes throws them off their guard, and allures them into shallow waters. In this case they continue to flounder about, till they are either knocked on the head by persons who happen to observe them, or till the tide flows in to their relief. In one of the poems of Waller, a story (founded on fact) is recorded, of the parental affection of these animals. A Grampus and her cub had got into an arm of the sea, where, by the desertion of the tide, they were enclosed on every side. The men on shore saw their situation, and ran down upon them with such weapons as they could at the moment collect. The poor animals were soon wounded in several places, so that all the immediately surrounding water was stained with their blood. They made many efforts to escape; and the old one by superior strength, forced itself over the shallow water into the ocean. But, though in safety herself, she would not leave her young-one in the hands of assassins. She therefore again rushed in; and seemed resolved, since she could not prevent, at least to share the fate of her offspring. The story concludes with poetical justice; for the tide coming in, conveyed them both off in safety.

BIRDS.

RAPACIOUS BIRDS.

IN the Birds which constitute the present order, the bill is some what hooked, having the upper mandible or division either dilated a little towards the point, or furnished with a tooth-like process. The nostrils are open. The feet are stout, and armed with strong hooked claws three placed forward, and one backward.

OF THE VULTURES IN GENERAL.

THE Vultures have their bill straight, and hooked only at the end; its edges are sharp, like a knife, and the base is covered with a thin skin. The head, cheeks, and, in many species, the neck, are either naked, or clad only with down or short hairs. The tongue is large, fleshy, and cleft at the end. The craw often hangs over the breast. The legs and feet are covered with great scales; and the first joint of the middle toe is connected

to that of the outermost by a strong membrane. The claws are large, somewhat hooked, and very blunt; and the inside of the wings is covered with down.

The characters which principally distinguish the Birds of this tribe from the Eagles and Falcons, are the want of feathers on part of the head, and sometimes even on the whole head and neck; and their voracious manners, as they never kill prey from choice, but in general devour only such animals as are either dying, or are found dead and putrid. Their sense of smelling is so exquisite, that they are able to scent a dead body at the distance of many miles. "They are (says Mr. Pennant) greedy and voracious to a proverb; and not timid, for they prey in the midst of cities, undaunted by mankind." After some of the battles in the East, where vast slaughter takes place, of Elephants, Horses, and men, voracious animals crowd to the field from all quarters, and of these, Jackals, Hyænas, and Vultures, are the chief. Even in the places where the last are otherwise seldom observed, the plain will on such occasions be found covered with them. Vast multitudes will be seen in the air, descending from every side,

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