BOOK III. (Duodecimo), CHAPTER III. (Mealy-mouthed Porpoise).--The
largest kind of Porpoise; and only found in the Pacific, so far
as it is known. The only English name, by which he has hitherto
been designated, is that of the fisher--Right-Whale Porpoise,
from the circumstance that he is chiefly found in the vicinity of
that Folio. In shape, he differs in some degree from the Huzza Porpoise,
being of a less rotund and jolly girth; indeed, he is of quite
a neat and gentleman-like figure. He has no fins on his back
(most other porpoises have), he has a lovely tail, and sentimental
Indian eyes of a hazel hue. But his mealy-mouth spoils all.
Though his entire back down to his side fins is of a deep sable,
yet a boundary line, distinct as the mark in a ship's hull,
called the "bright waist," that line streaks him from stem
to stern, with two separate colors, black above and white below.
The white comprises part of his head, and the whole of his mouth,
which makes him look as if he had just escaped from a
felonious visit to a meal-bag. A most mean and mealy aspect!
His oil is much like that of the common porpoise.
Beyond the DUODECIMO, this system does not proceed,
inasmuch as the Porpoise is the smallest of the whales.
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