58 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description Value Beauty . 



THE BELUGA 



IS from twelve to eighteen feet in length, has 

 a short head, blunt nose, very minute eyes, and 

 a small mouth, with thirty-six short blunt teeth; 

 the pectoral fins nearly of an oval form ; and be- 

 neath the skin may be felt the bones of five fin- 

 gers, which terminate at the edge of the fin in 

 five very sensible projections. The tail is divided 

 into two lobes, which lie horizontally, but do not 

 fork, except a little at the base, and it has no 

 dorsal fin. In swimming, this fish bends its tail 

 under it like a lobster, and works it with such 

 force as to dart along with the rapidity of an 

 arrow. 



This fish is common in all the arctic seas, and 

 forms an article of commerce, being taken on 

 account of its blubber. There are fisheries for 

 them and the porpesse in the river St. Laurence. 

 A considerable quantity of oil is extracted from 

 them; and of their skin is made a sort of mo- 

 rocco leather, thin, yet strong enough to resist a 

 musket ball. They are usually caught in nets, but 

 are sometimes harpooned. They bring forth only 

 one young at a time, which is dusky, but grows 

 white in proportion to its age, the change first 

 commencing on the belly. They are apt to fol- 

 low boats, as if they were tamed, and appear 

 extremely beautiful, by reason of their resplen- 

 dent whiteness. 



