106 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
is more especially found on the line-currents, which extend 
from the equator to about the seventh degree of north and south 
latitudes, yet it has been noticed in the Mediterranean, and one 
individual, a stray sheep indeed, has even been captured in the 
Thames. 
The Narwal, or Unicorn-fish, attains a length of from twenty to 
twenty-five feet. He is of a grey-white colour, punctured with 
many white spots, and as his head is not disproportionate to the 
length of his body, may rank among the handsomest cetaceans. 
He distinguishes himself, as is well known, from all other 
members of the family by the long twisted tooth or horn pro- 
jecting horizontally from the upper jaw. This mighty weapon, 
the true use of which has not yet been fully ascertained, was 
formerly sold at a very high price, as proceeding from the fa- 
bulous unicorn; at present, it is only paid according to the 
worth of its excellent ivory, which is harder, heavier, and less 
liable to turn yellow than that of the elephant. The whalers 
are therefore highly delighted when they can pick up a chance 
narwal, but this only succeeds in narrow bays; for the unicorn- 
fish is an excellent swimmer, and extremely watchful. In spite 
of his menacing appearance, he is a harmless sociable creature, 
fond of gambolling and crossing swords playfully with his com- 
peers. It is remarkable that the opening of the mouth of so 
huge an animal is scarcely large enough to admit the hand of a 
man. Scoresby found in the stomach of a narwal remains of 
cuttle fishes, which seem to form his chief aliment, besides 
pieces of skates and plaice. The narwa! is frequent about 
Davis’ Straits and Disco Bay, but is nowhere found in the 
Pacific, having most likely not yet discovered the north-western 
passage. He rarely wanders into the temperate seas, yet one 
was caught, in 1800, near Boston in Lincolnshire, and two others, 
in 1736, on the German coast of the North Sea. 
The Dolphin tribe is distinguished from the cachalot by a 
more proportionate head; from the narwal by the absence of 
the long horn; and generally possesses sharp teeth in both jaws, 
all of one form. The number of species is very great; Linnzeus 
distinguished four sperm whales and three dolphins; now many 
naturalists acknowledge but one species of the former, while the 
dolphins have increased to more than thirty, and many are as 
yet unknown. 
