490 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC llEGIONS. 



the point. A five feet tusk, (about the average 

 length), is about 2^ inches diameter at the base, If 

 in the middle, and about f ths within an inch of the 

 end. In such a tusk,' there are five or six turns of the 

 spiral, extending from the base to within 6 or 7 in- 

 ches of the point. Beyond this, the end is without 

 striae, being smooth, clean and white ; the striated 

 part is usually grey and dirty. 



Besides this external tusk, which is peculiar to 

 the male, there is another on the right side of the 

 head, about 9 inches long, imbedded in the skull. 

 In females, as well as in young males, in which the 

 tooth does not appear externally, the rudiments of 

 two tusks will almost always be found in the upper- 

 jaw. These are solid throughout, and are placed back 

 in the substance of the skull, about 6 inches from its 

 most prominent part. They are 8 or 9 inches in 

 length, both in the male and female ; in the former 

 they are smooth, tapering, and terminate at the root 

 with an oblique truncation ; in the latter they have 

 an extremely rough surface, and finish at the base 

 with a large irregular knob placed towards one side, 

 whicli gives the tusks the form almost of pocket 

 pistols. Two or three instances have occurred, of 

 male narwals having been taken, which had two 

 large external tusks. But this is a rare circumstance. 

 I have never seen an external tusk on the right side 

 of the head ; though I think it not improbable, but 

 that some v«'liich I have been shown having no per- 



