ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 107 



The monodon uses this instrument for the purpose of 

 digging the sea plants from the rocks at great depths, not 

 alone for the purpose of obtaining tender esculents, but 

 with the intent of driving from their retreats the shrimps, 

 mollusca, vermes, and other minute animals that constitute 

 his peculiar food. The spiracles in his crown are double ; 

 but in their exit from the skin they unite and form a single 

 aperture, through which the animal respires in a short and 

 scarcely perceptible gust. His motion, when struck by a 

 harpoon, is extremely confused. Seldom descending 

 much below the surface of the water, he is easily taken ; 

 and a few thrusts of the whale lance are sufficient to effect 

 the capture. The Greenlandmen save nothing of the 

 monodon but the blubber and tooth. The fins and tail 

 being small, are not looked upon as of sufficient value to 

 compensate the trouble of keeping. 



Balcena Mysticetus (the common whale). — This huge 

 tenant of the sea is the chief object of the Greenland 

 fisherj^ ; and for capture of this animal an expensive fleet 

 is annually fitted out under the protection of the British 

 Government. No name in zoology has been more pre- 

 posterously applied than that of " fish," as generally in- 

 cluding the balaena. The endeavours of Linnaeus to esta- 

 blish a classification of animals on the principle of teeth 

 being an organic distinction, expressive of the natural 

 means of prolonging existence, is justly the admiration of 



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