40 



upwards, and, which is the singularity, from 

 the upper jaw. These instruments are not 

 wanted for defence, that service being provided 

 for by two tusks issuing from the under jaw, 

 and resembling those of the common boar. Nor 

 does the animal use them for defence. They 

 might seem, therefore, to be both a superfluity 

 and an incumbrance. But observe the event. 

 The animal hitches one of these bent teeth upon 

 the branch of a tree, and then suffers its whole 

 body to swing from it. This is its manner of 

 taking repose, and consulting its safety. It 

 continues the whole night suspended by its 

 tooth, both easy in its posture and secure; being 

 out of the reach of animals which hunt for 



SINGULAR PROPERTIES OF THE DOLPHIN. 



The Dolphin is a large fish, so like the por- 

 poise, that he has been often confounded with 

 it, although they differ much from each other. 

 He seldom exceeds five feet in length ; the body 

 is roundish, growing gradually less towards the 

 tail; the nose is long and pointed; the skin 

 smooth; the back black, or dusky blue, becoming 



