MAMMALS. 653 



whales. " The attacks of these wolves of the ocean upon their gigantic 

 prey," says Captain Scammon, " : may be likened in some respects to a pack 

 of hounds, holding the stricken deer at bay. They cluster about the 

 animal's head, some of their number breaching over it, while others seize 

 it by the lips and haul the bleeding monster under water ; and when cap- 

 tured, should the mouth be open, they eat out its tongue." The same 

 author describes the attack of three killers on a California gray whale 

 and her calf which had grown to three times the bulk of the largest killer. 

 The contest lasted for an hour or more. " They made alternate assaults 

 upon the old whale and her offspring, finally killing the latter, which sank 

 to the bottom where the water was five fathoms deep. During the struggle 

 the mother became nearly exhausted, having received several deep wounds 

 about the throat and lips. As soon as the prize had settled to the bottom, 

 the three killers descended, bringing up large pieces of flesh in their mouths, 

 which they devoured after coming to the surface. While gorging them- 

 selves in this wise, the old whale made her escape, leaving a track of gory 

 water behind." The killers are not afraid of man, and instances are 

 known where whalers have had their prey forcibly stolen away by these 

 animals while towing it to the ship. 



The white whale rarely appears south of the mouth of the St. Law- 

 rence, but there it was once very abundant, and it is from this locality that 

 the specimens occasionally exhibited in aquaria are obtained. In confine- 

 ment they are fed on fish, chiefly eels, and of these it takes between two 

 and three bushels to supply the daily needs. They have been fished to 

 death for their oil and skins. The latter makes an excellent leather, soft 

 and very durable, and almost impervious to water. This whale-fishing has 

 had a result which is very interesting, as showing the interdependence of 

 nature. Since these whales were reduced in number it has been noticed 

 that the number of salmon in the Canadian rivers has greatly decreased, 

 and to an extent not to be explained by any over-fishing. The chain 

 seems to be as follows : the white whales feed on seals, while seals in turn 

 are very fond of salmon ; the decrease in whales of course resulted in an 

 increase of seals, and this in turn had its influence on the salmon. Now 

 that the seals are persecuted and killed by the hundreds of thousands by 

 man, the salmon-fishery is improving. It is almost a case of Tenterden 

 steeple and Goodwin sands. 



The strangest of all the whales is the narwal of the Arctic seas, an 

 animal from ten to fourteen feet in length, and armed in front witli a 

 long, spirally twisted horn of ivory, which may add from six to ten feet 

 more. This long tusk, which sticks straight forward, is but a greatly 

 modified and enormously developed tooth, and is the only dental armature 



