130 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



ORDER II.—PREDENTATE CETACEA ; 



OR, THOSE WITH TEETH ONLY IN THE ANTERIOR 

 PART OF THE UPPER JAW. 



GENUS III. 



MONODONS OR NARWHALES.* 



The animals of this genus have a single opening from 

 the blow-holes, situated over the nape of the neck, and 

 instead of teeth have generally a single tusk, or horn 

 (sometimes two), proceeding from one side of the snout, 

 a considerable length, more or less spirally twisted. 

 Their head is not so long or thick in proportion as the 

 Balsenoptera, but terminates in an obtuse snout. Their 

 mouth is small, and entirely destitute of teeth, or horny 

 laminae. The upper surface and sides of the body are 

 variegated with spots of different forms, and a longitudi- 

 nal ridge extends from the origin of the tail to a consi- 

 derable distance along the back. There are no dorsal 

 fins on the proper narwhales, which at all resemble the 

 preceding genus. These animals are generally found in 

 the Greenland and Icelandic seas. 



There is some ambiguity respecting the species of this 

 genus. Linnaeus described but one species, and zoolo- 

 gists are not yet decided whether there should be more 



* Synonymes. — Narwalus — La Cepede 

 Narivhale 

 and Unicorn 



> of the Whalers. 



