papular SKcttonarj) of mmatetr $aturr. 445 



NAKOO. One of the native names of the 

 Narrow-beaked Crocodile of India. (Ga- 

 vialis gangeticus.) 



NARWHAL. (Hfonoflonmonoceros.] This 

 extraordinary marine animal, which is also 

 known under the name of the SEA UNICOKX, 

 belongs to the Cetacea, but differs from every 

 other kind of Whale by having no teeth, 

 properly so called, and in being armed with 

 a formidable horn, projecting directly for- 

 ward from the upper jaw, in a straight line 

 with the body. This horn is from six to 

 ten feet long, spirally striated throughout 

 its whole length, and tapering to a point : 

 it is harder and whiter than ivory, for which 

 article it was at one time not only substi- 

 tuted, but was also in high repute for its 

 supposed medicinal powers. The Narwhal 

 is generally from twenty to thirty feet in 

 length from the mouth to the tail ; some- 



object." " It would be a strange anomaly 

 were tl.e apparent singleness of this weapon 

 real ; but the truth is, that both the teeth 

 are invariably formed in the jaw, not only 

 of the male, but of the female also but 

 that in ordinary cases one only, and this in 

 the former sex, is fully developed, the other 

 remaining in a rudimentary condition, as is 

 the case with both in the female." 



NASALIS. A genus of monkeys, con- 

 taining the curious Bornean long-nosed Mon- 

 key. [See PUOBOSCIS MO.VKEY.] 



NASS A. A genus of Mollusca, inhabiting 

 a small globular or oval shell, according to 

 the spire, which in some is short, and in 

 others long ; mouth oblong, notched ; inner 

 lip thickened, and spread out, occasionally 

 very large ; right lip often wrinkled ; oper- 

 culum horny. By some authors this genus 

 is united to Buccinum, on account of the 



times much more ; and it is occasionally, I little tooth-like projection terminating the 



though not very often, found with two of 

 these horns, or tusks, sometimes of equal 

 length, and sometimes very unequal. The 

 head of this animal is short, and convex 

 above ; the mouth small ; the spiracle or 



columclla. The head of the animal is large, 

 the proboscis short, or altogether wanting ; 

 two tentacula, with eyes in the middle ; foot 

 very large. They abound in the South of 

 Europe, and some are occasionally seen on 



breathing-hole duplicated within; the tongue j our own coasts. They may sometimes be 

 long ; the pectoral fins small ; the back fin- | see n feeding on the Mactra, which they effect 

 less, convex, and rather wide ; becoming gra- j by piercing the shell with their proboscis, 

 dually accuminated towards the tail, which, ; and extracting the con tents through the small 

 as in other Whales, is horizontal. The skin ! round aperture which by this means they 

 is darkly marbled on the back, lighter on 

 the sides, and nearly white on the belly : it 



is quite smooth, and there is a considerable 

 depth of oil or blubber beneath. " 



The Nar- 



have formed. 



NASUA. A genus of Plantigrade quad- 

 rupeds, distinguished by the elongation and 



of 



arctic seas and i upward curve of the snout, which the ani- 

 consist of th?.l? kind* I *& belonging to this genus have the power 

 of flat-fish, medusa,, and other marine ani- 

 mals. It is taken by means of the harpoon ; 

 and its flesh is eaten by the Greenlanders. 

 Although both swift and strong, as well as 



being armed with such a prodigious weapon, 



NATATORES. The name given to an 

 Order of birds? viz . those w hich are wcb- 



the Narwhal is one of the most peaceable ; f oote d, and otherwise adapted for an aquatic 

 inhabitants of the ocean. j Ufe. This order includes five families ; the 



We have the authority of Mr. Bell for j AiMtidai, or Ducks; the Colymbidte, or 

 stating that in the general form ot the body, j)i vers ; the Alctd<e, or Auks ; the Laridce, 

 in the obtuse and rounded head, its small or Gulls and the pdicanida, or Pelicans. 

 gape, its finless back, and in the form and ( The form and 8 i ze o f t h e wings, and the 

 structure of the cranium the Narwhal ap- i powers o f flight, vary greatly in the different 

 proaches very near to the Beluga. Of its tribes of this order . but they are a ll most 

 tooth or horn, this gentleman thus speaks : easily distinguishable from the rest of the 

 " To what extent the ascribed power ot the feathered race on account of the peculiar 

 tooth may be true, we have but little means 8tru cture and position of their feet ; the toes 

 of ascertaining ; but there is the structural ^^g i nyar iably connected together by a 

 evidence of its form, and its extraordmary : me . m brane, and the legs placed behind the 

 development, to indicate that there must be ' equilibrium of the body, so as to be more 

 some especial use for so long and sharp and e ffi e i en t instruments for its propulsion in 

 powerful a weapon ; and really there seems the water . The body is also covered with 

 no reasonable ground for assigning to it any i a thick coat of down beneath the feathers ; 

 other object than that formerly attributed ; alld the plumage is oiled by a secretion of 

 to it by the ignorant, namely, that of de- ; cer tain glands near the tail, so that the 

 fence. In this respect, it forms, indeed, an water rung o ff without scarcely wetting the 

 additional instance to numerous others, of surface. Their food consists chiefly of fish, 

 gregarious animals, to the males of which mo llusca, and insects. They live much more 

 alone belongs such a development of the | upon the wftter than on i and . and they re . 

 teeth or the horns as shall constitute them sort to the shore c hi e fly for the purpose of 

 the natural defenders of the herd. The ele- ] bu ildin? their nests and rearing their young. 

 phant, the wild boar, and even the horse, 



offer examples of the former, and the ante- 



NATICA. A genus of Mollusca, the shell 



lopes and deer of the latter ; and there can of which is globose, thick, and generally 

 be no doubt that the restriction of this weapon j smooth; spire short, pointed, and with few 

 to the males in the Narwhal has a similar volutions ; outer lip thin ; inner lip and 



