540 THE BELUGA. 
white, diversified with sundry grey marks, and the under portions of the body are white. 
The tints of the Narwhal are rather variable even in the same individual, which assumes 
different hues at different stages of its existence. There is no fin upon the back of the 
Narwhal, but its place is indicated by a fold or ridge of skin, which runs down the centre 
of the back, and in old specimens appears to have been subjected to hard usage. The 
pectoral fins are very small in proportion to the size of the animal, and appear to be of 
little service to the owner except for the purpose of preserving the balance of the body. 
In the upper jaw there are two other teeth beside the tusks, which are concealed in the 
gum and are supposed to be false molars. 
The Narwhal isa gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, and generally associating 
in little companies of fifteen or twenty im number, It seems to be eifted with a con- 
siderable amount of curiosity, as Sow erby mentions that several of iWese animals pursued 
the ship from some distance, diving below the strange monster and playing near the 
rudder, It is seldom found in southern latitudes, although it has two or three times been 
driven upon our coasts, but is seen in great numbers between the seventeenth and 
eighteenth degree of north latitude. The length of an adult Narwhal is about thirteen feet. 
THe BELUGA, which is sometimes called the WHITE WHALE on account of the colour 
of its skin, is an inhabitant of the higher latitudes, bemg found in great numbers in 
Hudson’s Bay and Davis’ Straits, and is also known to frequent the northern coasts of 
Asia and America, being especially fond of the mouths of large rivers. 
Although it has no love for the warmer seas, it has been found upon our own coasts, 
where it has fallen a victim to the wrath of the fishermen. A Beluga was seen almost 
daily in the Frith of Forth for nearly three months, taking advantage ‘of the tide to pass 
up the Frith, and always securing its retreat before the water had sunk sufficiently to 
prevent it from escaping seaw ards. It was at last killed by means of spears and guns, 
and its body was very carefully examined by competent anatomists. 
The head of the Beluga is short and rounded, the forehead being convex, and the 
lower jaw not so wide as the upper. Both jaws of this animal are well supplied with 
teeth, some of which have a tendency to fall out as the animal increases in years, and are 
generally wanting in the jaws of those specimens which are captured. The dorsal fin is 
absent, and the pectorals are toler ably large, thick, powerful, and rounded. The thick and 
powerful tail is bent under the body while the animal is swimming, and is used with 
such singular strength that the creature shoots forward with arrowy speed, whenever it is 
alarmed or excited. 
The colour of this animal is generally a cream-white, but in some specimens the 
cream tint is dashed with red, and becomes a pale orange. When young, the Beluga 
is marked with brown spots, the general hue of the body being a slaty grey. The 
averave length of an adult male is about eighteen or twenty feet. The eye of this 
animal is hardly larger than that of man, and the iris is blue. The food of the Beluga 
consists chiefly of marine fish, such as cod, haddocks, and flounders, which are easily 
caught by these active and voracious animals, 
On account of their speed and agility, the whalers seldom attempt their capture, 
although their boldness is so great as to induce them to follow the boats in considerable 
numbers, and to play all kinds of antics within easy reach of a harpoon. As, however, 
they are so swift and agile as to elude the barbed steel, or to shake it from its hold if it 
should happen to strike them, the harpooner seldom runs the risk of losing time and 
patience in the chase of such a creature. Moreover, even were the animal fairly struck 
and secured, the blubber is not of sufficient value to repay the crew for their expenditure 
of time, labour, and personal risk, 
The oil that is furnished by the Beluga is of very good quality, although small in 
quantity, and is sufficiently valuable to lead to the establishment of regular Beluga hunts 
in the great rivers of northern America, which they ascend for some “distance in search 
of prey. 
These hunts are often very successful, and furnish a large supply of oil and skin. 
As soon as a Beluga is seen in the river or inlet, its retreat is cut off by strong nets 
