Meet Mr. Porpoise - Ceta-Base

MEET MISTER
By Arthur F. McBride curator, Man,
Introducing the readers of NATURAL HISTORY to one of their most
"human" deep-sea relatives. His astonishing habits, observed at Florida's
Marine Studios, reveal an appealing and playful water mammal who remembers
his friends and shows a strong propensity to jealousy and grief.
Docile as a pet dog, the porpoise does not snap his jaws in
taking food. Merely enough pressure is exerted to hold the
fish until the animal falls back into the water to swallow it.
Visitors have been permitted to feed the leaping porpoises
Photo by Wm. F. Gerecke

PORPOISE
Romance
of the sea! What a fascination lies
in ragged reefs, crashing combers, rusty
freighters and all the flotsam that finds its
way from 'Frisco to Rangoon New Bedford to
Singapore. Yet of all the tall tales recounted by seagoing
men perhaps none were so imaginative as those
about whales, porpoises and dolphins. While scien-
tists, working almost entirely from dead bodies, la-
icquired a great deal of information upon
difi
n andspecial adaptations of > *
mmals, the popular concept 7"^^—^\~T>^"~"^ ^~r"~Z
. , ., , AlR VIEW of Marine Studios,
has to a great extent remai
/' Florida
'
raained a mass or fanciful , , ,.
,
.
the world's largest aquaria tanks
legends.
Of course, the surging roll of a porpoise as it breaks
water to breathe is a familiar sight in our own coastal
waters as well as on the high seas. But the bulk of a
porpoise's life, like the bulk of an iceberg, lies prin-
cipally beneath the surface of the water. And, until
March, 1938, no one had ever been able to study accu-
rately this sub-surface existence. At this time the first
porpoises were introduced into the newly-built cir-
cular oceanarium at Marine Studios, Marineland,
Florida, to begin a life of captivity under close ob-
servation.
What are the Marine Studios? What is the differ-
ence between this enterprise and any other aquaria?
The difference lies in the fact that at Marine Studios
marine life is not segregated by species but placed to-
" Portholes" beloiv water level give the visitor the nearest thing to a descent
in diving helmet. All captive porpoises have learned to take food from the diver
Photo by II m. F. Gereckt
MEET MISTER PORPOISE 17

gether as it exists in the open sea. We therefore find
in one tank sharks swimming side by side with a school
of jacks, and a six-foot green moray coiled under the
same rock that is home to a six-inch angel fish.
Assume for a moment that we are guests for the
day at Marineland. As we approach the giant tanks,
we are astounded at the natural beauty of the place.
The tanks themselves are built along the ocean front
and to the east extends the broad expanse of the blue
Atlantic. To the west the ground rises in lump contours
of sand dunes and shell mounds, and rolls away
to the Intra-Coastal Waterway shimmering in the
bright Florida sunlight. Countless palms wave a
friendly greeting and the white of the sand dunes is
softened by cactus, yucca and seagrape.
We approach the south end of the gigantic tanks
and are directed to the main entrance. As we step
into the lower corridor, soft blue lights lead us from
porthole to porthole ; and through these windows we
gaze in awe at the fascinating, colorful undersea
world. The blue-green waters, pumped from the
ocean at the rate of five million gallons per day, are
iridescent and clear. The floor of the mammoth ocean-
arium is covered with sand, sea shells and plumes.
A seven-ton coral reef affords protection for the smaller
specimens. A 300-pound turtle lumbers lazily over
the coral reef, and great schools of shiny bumper fish
follow in his path with the hopeful expectancy of find-
ing a few scraps of food the big fellow might leave
behind. From the stern of a shipwreck, the long
sinewy shape of a shark electrifies the scene, and many
of the smaller fish scuttle for cover. A huge ray gro-
tesquely flaps his way over the sea fans while a spotted
moray suspiciously eyes his passage from a safe sanctum
in the coral.
The 200 glass portholes, averaging 18 x 24 inches,
encased in the steel tank walls, stand out like brightly
lighted stages in the semi-dark corridors. Sitting in
front of a porthole, the visitor is shielded from in-
clement weather and outside distractions as the immense
life of the ocean floor unfolds before him.
In their large size also, the oceanariums are unique.
The circular tank, the one in which the porpoises live,
is 75 feet in diameter and twelve feet deep. The other
is roughly rectangular and has a length of 100 feet,
width of 40 feet and a maximum depth of 18 feet.
Connecting the two, and serving as a quarantine for
new specimens, is the shallow receiving tank.
The design of this structure was conditioned by
the three functions it was to perform. First, to offer
the public the opportunity to observe the complexities
of life under the surface of the sea. Second, to offer
the motion picture industry the facilities for filming
underwater action against an authentic background.
Third, and most significant, to offer the scientific
world the opportunity for study and investigation into
the biological problems for which the facilities of the
institution are most adequately fitted.
To the visitors at Marine Studios, the bottle-nosed
dolphin, commonly known as porpoise in American
waters, is of greatest interest. The first view of the
large gray animals, from underwater, completely
transforms previous concepts of them.
Battleship gray with its underbody a dull white,
the porpoise embodies Nature's most streamlining
effects. Observing them through the portholes, the
visitor is amazed at the grace and speed which the
porpoise attains. The tail of the porpoise, unlike that
of any fish, beats up and down and by this perpendicu-
lar motion, the supple flow of muscular effort through-
out the entire body enables the porpoise to attain tremendous
bursts of speed. Frequently after the animal
has achieved momentum he will arch his back and
glide across the tank; and often during courtship, the
animal will barrel roll for some 20 to 30 feet.
Porpoises, of course, are primarily fish eaters, and
in coastal Florida waters they feed principally on
mullet. This readily obtained fish is fed to the porpoises
here, and each adult eats at least 20 pounds
daily.
Two opportunities, to date, have been offered to
observe the nursing and weaning of a young porpoise.
The two originally captured in March, 1938, proved
to be mother and daughter ; the young one beginning
to nurse at once. Throughout the day and night the
baby took nourishment at 15 to 30 minute intervals.
When nursing, the young porpoise holds the end
of its snout for about five seconds over the inverted
nipple, which lies hidden in a fold in the blubber. By
contraction of specialized muscles of the abdomen the
parent forces the milk, which has collected in sinuses
running lengthwise through the mammary tissue, into
the mouth of the offspring. The whole operation can
take place quickly, an obvious necessity, because young
porpoises very rarely remain submerged, at least here
in the oceanariums, for more than 30 seconds. Young
nursing manatees, on the other hand, remain underwater
for ten minutes and suckle in typical mammalian
manner.
Three weeks after capture, the young one began
grasping fish in her mouth, and after playing with the
fish for a few moments would drop it and pick up another.
Once in the fourth week the young one was
observed to swallow at least one fish.
The following day the baby was in distress. The
dull eyes and listless form bespoke complete misery.
Frequently the young porpoise vomited, and each time
the attendant parent rubbed the stomach of the little
one steadily with her snout. By late afternoon the at-
tack passed, leaving the young one completely fatigued.
18 NATURAL HISTORY, JANUARY, 1940

All during rliis period the babj was receiving nourishment
from her parent. In the eleventh week, how-
ever, she again swallowed small mullet. During tin-
next three weeks the amount of fish consumed rose to
about ten pounds. The young one, however, fre-
quently attempted to nurse until the fourteenth week.
The second nursing porpoise to be studied in the
tanks was captured with her mother in July, 1939.
About a month after capture, the female appeared to
go dry. The young one, however, made frequent at-
tempts to obtain milk. For a ten-day period the little
one went apparently without nourishment and lust
much weight. Finally she started eating a few fisb a
day, but swallowed them with considerable effort.
Within a week she was eating up to ten pounds per
day and was competing successfully with the adult
porpoises. At this writing, she is healthy and filling
out rapidly.
The portion of the brain devoted to receiving
sensations of sound, we learn, is particularly well
developed in the porpoise. It is extremely interesting,
therefore, to watch the behavior of an animal whose
principal concept of his surroundings comes to him
through his auditory apparatus.
The auditory apparatus has been considerably
modified in the case of these sea-going mammals. No
outer ear is visible on the head of the porpoise. If we
look closely, however, in the region a few inches be-
hind and lower than the eye, we notice an almost in-
visible opening, the rudiment of the auditory canal.
In the case of the animal we are watching, it is scarcely
large enough to permit the entrance of a toothpick.
Water is an excellent conductor of sound. This
closure of the auditory canal, therefore, does not im-
pair the animal's sense of hearing, as sound vibrations
are carried directly to the bones of the skull. The por-
poise is interested principally in the sounds trans-
mitted through water, and has been able to close his
external auditory canal without endangering his
survival.
The importance that this sense of hearing plays in
feeding has been particularly interesting. The first
porpoise to be captured and placed in the tanks here
in March, 1938, showed no interest whatsoever in
dead fish that were presented to him. Accidentally,
however, it was discovered that if the fish hit the
water broadside, with a splash, it was immediately
taken by the porpoise. Thereafter, fish were slapped
on the surface several times and were then thrown to
the porpoise in such a manner that they landed broad-
side on the water. The significance of this discovery
is interesting because we know that here in the murky
inland waters of the Florida coast, mullet frequently
leap clear of the water to land on the surface with a
splash. The possibility is offered, therefore, that the
J let.
The importance that sound plays in the life
porpoise lias ] (-d to much discussion about the
of communication among whales, dolph
siderable reference- have been made in literature to
or calls uttered bj ing mammals.
particularly, when harpooned oi
OVeries made at Marine Studio- with
porpoises was that the animals are capa
A sharp whistling sound was clearly evident in the
corridors surrounding the circular tank after the first
bottle-nosed dolphin was introduced. The sound was
-0011 noted to be caused by the 1 air from the
blowhole. Subsequent observations led to the :
tion that the sharp whistling sound made by porpoises
was possiblj similar in origin.
During the first week or two of captivity all of the
specimens whistled constantlj and swam about the
tank nervously. Afterthey became acclimated, bow ever,
the whistling was heard less frequently and appar-
ent [j served as a method of communication. I
mals made this sound less frequently during the day-
light than at night.
Apparently the animals used variations in this whis-
tling sound to indicate different emotional states.
L sually when one or several of the animals w ere chas-
ing a live fish, they would be whistling excitedly.
When any disturbing object, such as a net. was pres-
ent, this was also true. This sound was transmitted
well through water and was heard distinctly in the
corridors surrounding our tanks above the scuffling
of feet and the chatter of voices.
A\ hen it was necessary to move two porpoises, the
original mother and daughter, from the rectangular
tank into the circular one, a very clear example of the
function of the sound was obtained. The parent was
netted first and moved through the shallow connecting
tank into the circular. The water level was then
lowered in order to catch the young one. The two
animals remained in their respective tanks close to the
wire mesh gates that separated them from each other,
the young one whistling madly and the parent fre-
quently answering her. As soon as the water level in
the two tanks dropped low enough, so that the con-
necting tank was dry, and the watery, and therefore
sound-conducting connection between the two tanks
was severed, the parent left her position at the gate
and swam about the whole tank, even showing some
interest in chasing live fish. The young one persisted
in whistling as loudly as ever although the parent
never whistled again after she was unable to hear the
young one. Within a short time the young one was
captured and placed in the tank with its parent, where
they joyfully renewed their life together.
MEET MISTER PORPOISE J 9

photo by "'
(Left) The concrete
SHELL surrounding the
steel tanks encloses observation
corridors.
Stairiuays lead to a top
deck from which the
surface of the tanks can
be viewed. Flocks of
pelicans pass overhead
continually and egrets
dot the marsh expanses
to the west
(Right) A NEWLY-CAPTURED porpoise in the well of the collecting
boat Porpoise. The steel doors at the distant end of the ivell open to
the sea through the stern making it possible to bring large specimens in
under water. The pad and sling at the left will be placed under the
porpoise preparatory to hoisting
Anyone who has swum under water knows how
poorly we can see beneath the surface. How then can
the porpoises and whales, which were once land crea-
tures, pursue their submarine existence?
A frequently observed fact, has been that whales,
such as the killer, raise their heads out of water at
the edge of ice floes, apparently looking for prey. The
captive dolphins at Marine Studios frequently peer,
head out of water, and undoubtedly perceive with
some degree of definition, moving objects at a dis-
tance of at least 50 feet.
Whenever anyone walks out on the feeding plat-
(Below) Young porpoise about to catch a live fish while
"Ma" looks on approvingly. When live fish are introduced
the animals work together and herd the school against the
ivall where they can be more easily caught
Photo by Wtn. F. Gerecke
Photo by Mrs. C. V. Whit
form, whether carrying food or not, all the porpoises
gather in anticipation, raising half their bodies out of
water as they follow the movements of the human.
One of our young porpoises, which became very tame,
was a particularly keen observer of above water ac-
tivity. While this young one was resting at the surface,
its attention could be attracted by a hand waving
at a distance of 50 feet. The animal would come rac-
ing across the tank and leap out of water to investigate
the waving object.
All porpoises after being acclimated to captivity
will follow a fish thrown through the air 20 feet
The single closed blowhole shows up prominently on
the heads of these porpoises. The large animal in the cen-
ter is an adult female, and her young nursing offspring
follows in typical manner close behind
Photo by Mrs. C. V. Whitney
NATURAL HISTORY, JANUARY, 194O

( o 'i BLY i DLI P in canva tin porp
been transported from the dock ii, the octanarium
in a special truck. I hoist then lift tin qu
animal up to tin ' eceh ing tank. Being an air-
breathing mammal flu porpo'tSi Can l>, kept '-lit of
ati ' for long period
Whitney
above the water, by swimming on their sides, heads
out of water, and intently watching the fi>h with the
exposed eye. Occasionally they catch the fish in their
mouths, but usually only arrive in the general region
in which the fish lands. That the) recognize the fly-
ing object as a fish is improbable, because the tamer
ones will leap just as high out of water to take the
keeper's empty hand as they will to take a fish. After
a few unrewarded leaps, however, they will refuse to
jump until the reward is again given.
Underwater it is more difficult to determine the
extent of the bottle-nosed dolphin's vision. Because
the water in the tank is of exceptional clarity, the ob-
server is usually able to recognize objects on the far
A YOUNG PORPOISE at Marine Studios takes a mullet near
the surface. The light scattered by the rippled surface com-
pletely breaks up the form of the animal and at a distance
-.idt- of the tan.
observations that thi
the tank, but no direct evidence bi I > le '
the fact that the turbidit) i
near
Marine-
land is usually twenty-five ter than that in
tin- tanks, the possibility led vision in
nature are considerabl) less than the) arc for animals
in captn itj
All mammals require sleep in order to live and it
is therefore not surprising to find that the porpoises
spend definite periods throughout the da) and night
completer) relaxed. The animals, during these periods
of relaxation, always remain motionless at the sur-
face, the top portion of the head, including the blow-
hole, exposed to the air. The tail portion of the body,
ha

This photograph was taken when the original
mother and daughter were being trained. A few moments
later, the adult took the author's right foot in
(Left) The new arrival is gently lowered into the receiv-
ing tank. During this handling, the mammals remain remarkably
quiet and suffer no injuries to their sensitive skins
(Below) An attendant assists the animal from the canvas
sling. New arrivals are kept in this tank for weeks, where
they lose fear of man and feed freely. They are then better
able to compete with older residents in the large tank
her mouth and started off. As soon as she realized
her mistake, however, the foot was released with
scarcely a scratch
Photo by U'm. F. Ge

Apparentlj the females float more efficicntlj than
the males, and in the case of all female pe imens,
t h

to have a complete understanding of the position of
the various animals in the social order.
We have found that new arrivals in the tank, if
smaller, were chased and frequently bitten by the
older residents. As mentioned previously, in October,
1938, two young animals were introduced and were
never completely tolerated by the adult female. At
that time the adult female and young offspring were
the only residents in the tanks. In January, 1939, two
adult male porpoises were introduced into the tank
after the adult female had lost her young one. From
the beginning there was no question that the larger
of these two males was the dominant one.
Courtship activity began immediately, and although
the smaller male was definitely subordinated
to the larger, it in no way lessened his activity during
the courtship period. Less than two weeks after the
two males were introduced, a smaller male, seven
and one-half feet in length, was captured. The two
large ones immediately persecuted him and during
the first few days he was bitten several times. Because
of his agility, however, he was able to avoid the two
larger males.
Within a few weeks, he was more or less accepted
by the other porpoises, and was milling around the
feeding attendant's platform during feeding time.
poises at Marine
Studios are curious about activity
on the top deck and
frequently raise their heads
above water. While in this
position they can be attracted
by a waving hand or other
moving object, and the visitor
can induce the porpoises to
leap out of the water for a
photograph. They also gather
in this manner before each
feeding
Photo by Wm. F. Gerecke
This TRIO, an adult and a young bottle-nosed dol- When they were placed in the circular oceanaphin
and one spotted dolphin, were captured at rium, the spotted persisted in following the other
about the same time and were kept together in two for several days in spite of protests on the
the receiving tank for a short training period.
part of the adult bottle-nosed
Photo by Mrs. C. V. Whitney

This small male never indulged in anj oi the couri
ship displays of the large: males, and as long as he
remained al a di itanl ide ol I he tank he •
,
bothered by them. Even during the sleeping periods
the young male was careful to remain on 'lie side of
the lank opposite from the other two.
The principal form of intimidation was a loud
snapping of the jaws which, when a dominant animal
did it, was almost always sufficient to scare the sub-
missive one away. Frequently all that was neci
was the assumption of a posture like that taken bj a
porpoise when preparing to get under waj quickly.
Because the two males were captured together, ap-
parently their social relationship hail been determined
previously. One was about nine feet in length, the
other eight and one-hall, and there could be little
question that during the feeding and courtship activity
the larger one was the more dominant. There was
practically no fighting between the two, and, aside
from occasional jaw-snapping on the part of the
larger, the two were very peaceable. During the court-
r ih, In i "bat •
inn! vi
'.
'I 111 I
I I' IRPOISE s Mll.i . '1' lin
it'' 1 alike.
()n, \u inn/ porpOlSl ',iil did II,, I);,, in I-
iief 11/ snapping prevented thi
to staff
from Initial/ 1,11 the li«i In- i

Young PORPOISE leaping for food. This animal has been knoivn
to clear the water completely when particularly energetic
ship activity neither of the males would permit the
other to leave for even a few seconds.
In February the smaller of the two large males
was removed from the tank and transported by means
of our tank truck to Tampa. It was exhibited there
under the auspices of the State Conservation Department
in a concrete tank for three weeks. After being
brought back by truck, it was again placed in the cir-
cular tank. When the animal was released into the
tank, the greatest amount of excitement on the part
of the larger male was exhibited. No doubt could exist
that the two recognized each other, and for several
hours they swam side by side rushing frenziedlv
through the water, and on several occasions they
leaped completely out of the water. For several days,
the two males were inseparable and neither paid anv
attention to the female.
From our limited experience with the bottle-nosed
dolphin, we find it difficult to ascribe any definite mat-
ing season for the species. Courtship was first observed
when the first two males, previously mentioned, were
placed in the tank with the lone adult female. Court-
ship activity began immediately with several forms
of display by the males. Both would come gliding
across the tank, usually swimming upside down, fre-
(Below) The spotted dolphin sleeping. Slow beats
of the tail enable him to maintain his position
26 NATURAL HISTORY, JANUARY, 1 94O

(|iicnil\ w it 1 1 inoiitlis « ill i- open and 01 1 asionally snap-
ping their jaws together. Often the males would al
tempi to buti the female, bul neithei evei attempted
in bite her. One male, ;is mentioned above, would
never permit the other to gel out of si^ln and the two
constantly pursued the female foi a
-
>
• 1 i *
• < 1
i of two
weeks.
In March another adult female was captured and
placed in the tank. The same courtship activity was
displayed again. This time only one adult male was
present.
The period of gestation for any Cetacean (pro
nounced see-tay'-shean) is not definitely known.
Considerable interest is therefore attached to the fact
that the porpoises here have mated. It is hoped that
the near future will witness the birth of a porpoise.
From observations on the animal for a period of a
year and a half, the observer cannot help feeling that
the animal possesses a high degree of intelligence. Ii
is hoped that the future will bring about the oppor-
tunity to test accurately the mental abilities ot these
captured Cetaceans.
The fact that these animals not only readily learned
to take food, but also quickly lost their fear of the
feeding attendant is a tribute to their adaptability.
(Below) Male porpoise, at right, warns new arrivals
at Marine Studios that he is boss by snapping jaws
MEET MISTER PORPOISE
During the Inst moot:, and a half of their
the adult and bain original 1) i aught
lei
food from the hand of th( but also
to raise their heads out of the vatei B •
ei ond iconv jumping th i
end of the
their lengths out oi Ice food. Since that
time evcral otl i
learned
to do like-
i e
During e original pai
(Above) A I'H.Mi sperm whale i
Kogia breviceps) washed ashore
near Marine/and in a storm lived only a few hours

tivity, they were also found to be curious about a
human swimming underwater with them. In the short
training period they learned to come over and take
fish from such a person's hand. Within a short time
after, they also learned to take food from the hand
of a diver walking on the bottom in a shoulder helmet.
The original young porpoise, in fact, frequently annoyed
the diver when he was going about his daily
window cleaning duties, by playfully nibbling at his
feet.
This young one was also keen about playing with
any human, whether a stranger or not, and would
come to the surface and gently nibble a hand which
was offered to her. The young one also delighted in
being scratched on the belly, and would repeatedly
come back and roll on her side at the surface for more.
Partially deflated rubber balls were kept in the tank
solely for the amusement of the young porpoise. She
would grab the ball in her mouth, pull it below water
and release it. Her eyes intensely followed the ball as
These two porpoises learned to eat from a plate but al
ways took the food below water to swallow it. They swallow
fish without chewing, head-first. The minute openings
it rose to the surface and bounded out of water. Many
other objects in the tank excited the curiosity of the
young porpoise, including turtles of all sizes from 25
to 300 pounds. The young one was noted on several
occasions to tip a 50 pound loggerhead turtle up, so
that its body lay in a vertical plane, and push it com-
pletely across the tank at the end of her snout.
The baby's playfulness, however, was her undoing.
In the early fall of 1938, two manatees were placed
in the tank—an adult female and her young nursing
offspring. The manatees tamed quickly, and soon
learned to come to the surface to eat eel grass from
the hand of the keeper. On these occasions the two
porpoises, particularly the young ones, would butt the
manatees persistently, until they retreated. The
young one carried this jealous activity even further
and would take eel grass from the mouth of the young
manatee and streak across the tank shaking the grass
throughout the water with a sidewise motion of her
head.
behind the eye are the rudiments of the ear opening. They
are scarcely large enough to permit the entrance of a
toothpick
Plwto by V/m. F. Gerecke

'I III PORPOISES do not tale u run
ning start in order to leap u/> for
fund. They start from the surface
and drive themselves steadily up
ward by powerful sweeps of /lien tail.
1 1 is therefore possible for a porpoise
to hold the position at right for sev-
eral seconds. Should one lose balance
while suspended in air, however, he
almost invariably falls bat kward,
thus avoiding the possibility of in-
jury against the steps of the feeding
platform
Photo hy
Ncllitjan Masters
In early December, the young porpoise's appetite
began to fail. A castor oil treatment was finally re-
sorted to. On the morning after Christmas, however,
the lifeless body of the young one was found being
supported at the surface by the bereaved parent, presumably
so that if life yet remained in the porpoise it
could breathe the necessary air. How long the parent
had held the body at the surface was not known, but
for several days following she showed unmistakable
signs of grief. The young porpoise's stomach was
found to be stuffed solid with undigested eel grass.
Although the animal had never been observed to swallow
the grass, it must have done so during the fre-
quent thefts of the manatee's food.
A dinner bell is habitually rung underwater at the
beginning of each feeding, but the porpoises have other
means of knowing when the feeding time approaches,
because they are always on hand in front of the feed-
ing platform with heads raised out of water, at least
ten minutes before the feeding is to begin. Because
crowds always gather on the top deck before each feed-
ing, their presence affords a cue to the animals ; but
on rainy days when the visitors do not stay on the top
deck, the porpoises still gather in anticipation of the
feeding.
At each feeding, a diver also goes in the water to
feed the animals by hand, and, although animals such
as large turtles, jewfishes and sting rays, actually bite
the diver's body in their enthusiasm for food, the por-
poises always remain poised and waiting for the food
to be offered to them. They also wait their turn and
practically never attempt to shoulder each other out
of the way. This is not true, however, when fish is
being thrown to them at the surface, because in those
cases several swim for the fish and the fastest gets it.
Recently, a large manta ray with a wing spread of
thirteen feet has been living in the oceanarium with
the porpoises. This ray circled the edge of the tank
constantly 24 hours a day. This greatly disturbed the
sleeping porpoises because they were accustomed to
sleeping in the same region in which the manta now
swam. For the first two days the porpoises did not get
much rest but soon proved their adaptability by restricting
their sleeping to the center of the tank where
the manta seldom intruded.
Fascinating visitors by their almost continual ac-
tivity at all hours of the day, the porpoise school is an
outstanding wildlife exhibit. The adaptability of the
mammals as a laboratory subject has been proved, and
investigations into their physiology have begun. By
the provision of adequate laboratory facilities and the
subsequent attraction of specialists in the fields of
mammalian physiology and behavior, the earnest hope
of Marine Studios is, that its unique facilities will
offer the means of elucidating the life habits of these
highly specialized mammals—the Cetacea.
MEET MISTER PORPOISE 29