178 The Mammalia of Essex : a Contribution towards a
Odontoceti. Physeteridae.
Physeter macrocephalus. Sperm Whale.—This tropical
whale has occasionally wandered to the shores of this island ;
and it is recorded that in 1788 six were found dead on the
Kentish coast, and a live one ran ashore in the Thames at
the same time. Dale also mentions one caught in the
Thames, and brought ashore at Blackwall.
Hyperoodon rostratus. Common Beaked Whale.—This is
the beet known species of the family of Ziphioid whales,
which are distinguished hy possessing one or two pairs of
teeth, situated in the lower jaw only. It appears to come
into British waters regularly in the autumn, and specimens
are killed almost every year on some parts of the coasts of
this island. John Hunter records one captured in the
Thames above London Bridge in 1783; and another, no
doubt of this species, is figured in Dale's 'History of Harwich
and Dovercourt,' as having been captured in the Blackwater
estuary.
Odontoceti. Delphinidae.
Orca gladiator. Grampus.—John Hunter records the cap-
ture of three specimens of this savage and destructive animal
in the River Thames towards the end of the last century ; and
in the British Museum is the skull of a specimen taken on
the Essex coast, as recorded in the 'Zoologist' for 1873,
p. 3429. Some years since I saw two whales, which had been
killed in one of the creeks of the Blackwater, which I have
no doubt were of this species, but no record was kept of them,
and I do not recollect what became of their bones; probably,
as usual, they went for manure.
Phocaena communis. Porpoise.—Who does not know this
merry and active creature? It occurs everywhere on our
coasts, and is as frequently seen during stormy weather as at
any other time, apparently revelling in the tempestuous
waters. It is so common that I have not thought it necessary
to give any records of capture.
Delphinus delphis. Common Dophin.—I have not been
able to find a record of the occurrence of this common