CRtJISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 43 



furnished with sharp conical teeth, and among the adults the dental formula may he put down at V V"i or eleven teeth 

 on each side of the upper jaw, and eight on each side of the lower one. Its diminutive eyes are but little larger than 

 those of the common porpoise. The minute orifice which constitutes the ear is covered with a sort of scale that 

 quite coueeals it. Its spiracle is situated a little behind the angle of the eye. The body is full, and tapers rather 

 abruptly towards the caudal tin, which is broad, and in expansion excels that of the Ona (Globiocephahta). The color 

 of the adults is invariably a yellowish white, while the very young are of leaden or bluish black, but as they mature 

 they become mottled, and eventually assume the soft cream-like tinge of the parent animal. This species of the 

 dolphin family is very rapid in its motion, and its swiftuess is brought into full play when in pursuit of the numer- 

 ous varieties of fish along the sea-shore or up the rapid rivers. When making prey of such bottom fish as the flounder 

 and halibut, it often darts into shallows where it can hardly float, but like the California gray in this respect, it 

 evinces no alarm at the situation and makes but little effort to reach a greater depth. The white whale, like all 

 others of this family, is fond of gathering iu troops, yet we have observed that it generally advances in lines of seldom 

 more than two or three abreast, or more frequently iu single file, spurting irregularly, and showing little of its form 

 above water. When undulating along in this manner it often makes a noise at the moment of coming to the surface 

 to respire, which may be likened to the faint lowing of au ox, but the strain is not so prolonged. Sometimes these 

 animals will gambol about vessels as porpoises do, but at the slightest noise upon the water or the discharge of fire- 

 arms they instantly disappear. 



Captain Scammon gives the dimensions of a beluga killed on theTegel River, Eastern Siberia, 

 measuring sixteen feet and six inches iu length and nine feet and ten inches iu its greatest circum- 

 ference. This was an unusually large one. The peculiar sound which Mr. Fisher supposed was 

 emitted by the beluga when below the water, and which Captain Scammon compares to the lowing 

 of au ox, is probably caused by its breathing as it breaks the water; it has a clear ringing sound, 

 and occurs the instant that the spiracle comes to the surface and while no other part of the animal 

 is above the water, and as, unless excited, its motions are exceedingly slow, some time occurs before 

 the back comes in sight, giving rise to the belief that the sound is made while the animal is still 

 below the surface. After rising to the surface and breathing it swims without exposing any part 

 of itself above the water until turning to go down again, when it rounds its back high, and, unless 

 very near or under very favorable circumstances, it is not seeu until this occurs, although the sound 

 has been heard several seconds before. Captain Scammon is probably iu error in regard to the 

 mottled appearance of the young. When changing color the effect was perhaps due to the pres- 

 ence of parasites on the body. We saw large numbers of them of all sizes, but observed none 

 mottled ; all were uniform iu color throughout, ranging from nearly black to milky white. 



The skin of the beluga is considered a great luxury by the inhabitants of the far north. As 

 au article of food it is said that white men soon acquire a taste for it, and that it is an excellent 

 antiscorbutic. The natives-kill the beluga for their winter use, and either dry the flesh by expos- 

 ing it to the sun, or if taken late iu the season, when the temperature is near freezing, it is put in 

 caches built of drift-wood, earth, and rocks to preserve it from the attacks of dogs or wolves, and iu 

 this way is kept fresh throughout the winter. The blubber and oil are stored in bags made of the 

 stomach and intestines and kept for winter use. The skin is sometimes used for making boot-soles. 



July 20, at noon, the wind moderating, we got uuder way and steamed northward. Passing 

 Cape Lisburne, we shaped a course for Icy Cape, the wind in the mean time having breezed up 

 from the southward, enabling us to make sail, and the following morning we were off Point Lay 

 with a fresh southerly wind. I was anxious to land and take some magnetic observations, but 

 was prevented by the surf on the beach, which was running high, and, owing to the shallow water ; 

 breaking a long distance from the shore. 



Notwiihstaudiug the cloudy, rainy weather, we had a bright ice-blink in sight ou the port 

 beam all the forenoon, and at meridian we saw the same unwelcome sight ahead. The ice being 

 so clear to the southward, I had entertained strong hopes of getting as far north as Point Belcher. 

 At 2 p. in. we came up to the pack off Icy Cape, apparently resting ou the shore. Owing to a 

 fresh gale and the increasing thickness of the weather, to avoid the Blossom Shoals we hauled to 

 the southward again under easy steam and sail, making short tacks between the ice-pack and the 

 shore during the night. 



Ou the morning of the 21st, the wind moderating, we kept away, and iu the afternoon again 

 came up to the ice in the same place as the day before. Being somewhat open at the edge, and 

 the sea having gone down, we entered it and tried to work around Blossom Shoals. A fog having 

 shut down ou us, it was necessary to proceed with great caution. 



