PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS. 157 



it a subquadi'angular form ; the pectoral fins are very 

 small, and there is no dorsal fin, so that the tail forms the 

 only efiective means of progression ; the general colour is 

 yellowish white, with numerous blackish spots of various 

 sizes and figiu'es ; in the young the spots are less distinct, 

 or confluent, and the ground colour is blackish grey. 



The length of the body, without the tooth, of a middle- 

 sized adult individual, is 15 feet ; of the tooth, o feet 6 

 inches ; length of the pectoral fin, 13 inches ; breadth of 

 the tail, 3 feet 1 inch. 



The Narwhal is a very powerful and active creature, 

 swimming with great swiftness ; feeds on molluscous and 

 other soft animals ; appears in herds of about six together. 

 The blubber is often half a ton in weight, and yields a large 

 proportion of fine oil. 



It inhabits the Northern Seas, seldom coming so far 

 south as even the northern islands of Scotland. It has 

 been observed on the British coasts only three or four 

 times. 



Genus PHYSETER. 



Head enormously large, truncated in front ; perfect teeth 

 in the lower jaw only ; in the upper jaw either wanting or 

 few, and rudimentary. 



Physeter macrocephalus. 



Physeter macrocephalus, Keys, u. Blas. Wirbeltli. Europ, p. 74 ; 



ScHiNz, Eiirop. Faun. vol. i. p. 95 ; Bell, Brit. Quad. 

 Spermaceti Whale, Common Cachalot. 



Desckiption. — The head is of enormous size, forming about 

 half the entire bulk, the body tapering from it to the tail ; 

 the back is smooth, with one or two low protuberances ; 

 the upper jaw, which overhangs the lower by four or five 

 feet, is without visible teeth, but there are a few concealed 



