UNIQUE VISITORS

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 4

UNIQUE VISITORS

SCHOOL OF GRAMPUS CROPS IN LEISURELY EXPLORATION OF HARBOUR PENETRATES FRINGES OF STEAMER BASIN Grampuses —mammals bearing a distinct resemblance to porpoises, which often leads to confusion among the uninitiated —some 20 strong, have been disporting themselves in the Upper Harbour both this morning and yesterday, causing groat speculation and interest among harbourside spectators. They were playing merrily almost in the steamer basin late this morning, blowing and sounding in shallow dives to give a pleasing see-saw motion in their traverse of the calm waters. Sightseers yesterday and to-day took great interest in this school, which was gambolling around the vicinity of the fertiliser and Ravensbonrne wharves for a long period. Late in the evening it made Rs way down the harbour, apparently seeking coastal waters again in preference to the harbour enclosure. But it did not disappear, as Ravensbourne residents expected when they heard the distinctive noise of the blowing fade away down the fairway. The school was as’ busily engrossed in amusing itself in the same waters this morning as it was then. Black on top and silvery beneath, with a sickle-shaped fin protruding just above the water between dives, the grampus is graceful for all its bulk. The school was characteristically indecisive ; heading for the steamer basin, it took many an exasperating change of direction as the ‘ Star ’ waited for it to pose for a photograph. As if it knew the intention, this gathering, rare in Otago Harbour waters, kept flirting around gracefully just beyond effective camera range. The leader would set off for the wharves from Ravensbonrne, throwing himself high into the air in languid grace, then, wh'en the course seemed assured, as one mammal the. school would reverse its course, and meticulously retrace its “ steps.” _ When last seen it was still blowing around the end of the Birch street wharf, keeping a discreet distance from harm, with a convoy of screaming, over-wheeling gulls to keep it company on its erratic course. This latest typo of visitor to the Upper Harbour seems to be here to stay, for a time at least. Like the occasional sunfish, shark, or sea lion that meanders from its coastwise course to investigate the reaches of Otago Harbour's bays, the grampus Ifave found them so much to their liking that they appear to want to tarry awhile in sunlit waters. Even the movements of steamers along the fairway they have been frequenting have not more than momentarily disturbed their peace. A short flurry of intensive escape action, when the lazy see-saw motions are shortened and speeded up surprisingly, and then the grampus revert to their leisurely blowing and shallow sounding. Even the “ lumbering ” dredge this morning excited only short concern in the ranks, which carefully executed a flank manoeuvre to. safer waters.