THE NARWHAL 



1215 



tion had been carried by currents out of their proper habitat. From constant per- 

 secution, the numbers of the narwhal have been greatly reduced in the more access- 

 ible portions of its habitat, and according to Baron Nordenskjold, it is now never 

 seen on the coasts of Nova Zembla. It is, however, more common at Hope island, 

 and large herds are reported from the seas between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla. 

 It is noteworthy that fossil remains of the narwhal have been found in the so-called 

 forest bed of the Norfolk coast, a deposit laid down before the great cold of the 



Habits 



A SCHOOt, OF NARWHALS. 

 (One-fortieth natural size.) 



glacial period, but when the temperature may have been steadily lowering, whereby 

 Arctic animals were enabled to leave their more northerly haunts. 



Of the habits of narwhals, unfortunately very little is known. 

 They are generally found in small schools, comprising from fifteen to 

 twenty individuals, and were described long ago by Scoresby as being extremely 

 playful in their disposition. Much has been written as to the use of the character- 

 istic tusk, but nothing very definite has yet been ascertained with regard to it. 

 That it is not employed for the purpose of procuring food, is perfectly evident from 

 the fact of its absence in the female. A more probable suggestion is that it is used 

 by the males in combats among themselves for the possession of the females; in 



