THE NARWHAL. 127 



which was examined by Sir E. Home. Nor with respect 

 to the male^nust it be supposed that the right tusk never 

 becomes developed ; for, on the contrary, instances some- 

 times occur, in which the right tusk projects externally 

 nearly as far as the left ; and there are grounds for sup- 

 posing that when the left becomes lost, or broken by acci- 

 dent, the right tusk becomes developed to supply the 

 deficiency. Sir E. Home, indeed, regards the right rudi- 

 mentary tusk (as it is usually found) to be nothing more 

 than a rnilk-tusk, or, in other words, a deciduous tooth, 

 not yet lost or shed, and waiting for the developement of a 

 permanent tusk (should jts developement be called for by 

 circumstances), to be driven gradually forward, and so 

 fall out. He observes, that " as the permanent tusk in the 

 narwhal begins to form in a direct line, immediately behind 

 the origin of the milk-tusk, the great purpose of the milk- 

 tusk is evidently to open the road for it, and to direct the 

 course of the permanent tusk, till it is completely pushed 

 out by it. 



Its usual length is about nine inches. Cuvier, speaking 

 of the tusks of this animal, says : " It has, indeed, the 

 germ of two tusks, but it is very seldom that both grow 

 equally. In general it is only that on the left side which 

 becomes developed, while that on the right remains, during 

 the whole of the creature's life, concealed within its own 

 alveolus." The tusk or spear of the narwhal constitutes 

 a powerful weapon, which it is reported to .use with terri- 

 ble effect. It is, however, its only weapon ; for it has 

 neither the formidable teeth of the grampus, nor of the 

 cachalot. Crantz thus describes the " monoceros, also 

 called narvhal."- " This species is commonly twenty feet 

 long, and has a smooth black skin, sharp head, and little 

 mouth. A round double-twisted horn runs straight out 

 from the left side of the upper lip. It is commonly ten 

 feet long, as thick as one's arm, hollow inside, and com- 

 posed of a white solid substance. It is probable he uses 



