The Dolphin
(Deilf) Sometimes dolphins are found in the seas around Ireland. The dolphin is a member of the whale family. It breathes in through a large blow-hole on the top of its head. It has a pointed jaw and sharp teeth and the head ends in a sharp beak. They are very friendly to humans and they can swim very fast. They eat fish and sometimes shellfish.
Dolphins speak to each other by means of whistles and clicks. They can jump and catch flying fish. They live in the sea but are sometimes found in large rivers. They normally swim together in large groups called schools. A dolphin can live until it's about thirty years old.
Sometimes dolphins sleep with their head on a rock and the rest of its body in the water. They have smooth skin and this helps them to be brilliant swimmers. They can tumble and leap in the water. They like to play around ships and entertain the passengers. They are very playful and intelligent mammals.
The dolphin's cousin, the porpoise, is also seen in the seas around Ireland. It is smaller than the dolphin, and its head is blunt, while the dolphin's head looks like a beak.
By Joanne Kavanagh and Christine Grehan
