540 



THE BELUGA. 



grayish-white, diversified with sundry gray marks, and the under portions of the body 

 are white. The tints of the Narwhal are rather variable even in the same individual, 

 which assumes different hues at different stages of its existence. There is no fin upon 

 the back of the Narwhal, but its place is indicated by a fold or ridge of skin, which 

 runs down the centre of the back, and in old specimens appears to have been subjected 

 to hard usage. The pectoral fins are very small in proportion to the size of the animal, 

 and appear to be of little service to the owner, except for the purpose of preserving 

 the balance of the body. In the upper jaw there are two other teeth beside the tusks, 

 which are concealed in the gum and are supposed to be false molars. 



The Narwhal is a gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, and generally asso- 

 ciating in little companies of fifteen or twenty in number. It seems to be gifted with 

 a considerable amount of curiosity, as Sowerby mentions that several of these animals 

 pursued the ship from some distance, diving below the strange monster and playing 

 near the rudder. It is seldom found in southern latitudes, although it has two or three 

 times been driven upon our coasts, but is seen in great numbers between the seven- 

 teenth and eighteenth degree of north latitude. The length of an adult Narwhal is 

 about thirteen feet. 



THE BELUGA, which is sometimes called the WHITE WHALE on account of the color 

 of its skin, is an inhabitant of the higher latitudes, being found in great numbers in 

 Hudson's Bay and Davis' Straits, and is also known to frequent the northern coasts of 

 Asia and America, being especially fond of the mouths of large rivers. 



Although it has no love for the warmer seas, it has been found upon our own coasts, 

 where it has fallen a victim to the wrath of the fishermen. A Beluga was seen almost 

 daily in the Frith of Forth for nearly three months, taking advantage of the tide to pass 

 up the Frith, and always securing its retreat before the water had sunk sufficiently to 

 prevent it from escaping seawards. It was at last killed by means of spears and guns, 

 and its body was very carefully examined by competent anatomists. 



The head of the Beluga is short and rounded, the forehead being convex, and the 

 lower jaw not so wide as the upper. Both jaws of this animal are well supplied with 

 teeth, some of which have a tendency to fall out as the animal increases in years, and 

 are generally wanting in the jaws of those specimens which are captured. The dorsal 

 fin is absent, and the pectorals are tolerably large, thick, powerful, and rounded. The 

 thick and powerful tail is bent under the body while the animal is swimming, and is 

 used with such singular strength that the creature shoots forward with arrowy speed, 

 whenever it is alarmed or excited. 



The color of this animal is generally a cream-white, but in some specimens the cream 

 tint is dashed with red, and becomes a pale orange. When young, the Beluga is marked 

 with brown spots, the general hue of the body being a slaty gray. The average length 

 of an adult male is about eighteen or twenty feet. The eye of this animal is hardly 

 larger than that of man, and the iris is blue. The food of the Beluga consists chiefly 

 of marine fish, such as cod, haddocks, and flounders, which are easily caught by these 

 active and voracious animals. 



On account of their speed and agility, the whalers seldom attempt their capture, al- 

 though their boldness is so great as to induce them to follow the boats in considerable 

 numbers, and to play all kinds of antics within easy reach of a harpoon. As, however, 

 they are so swift and agile as to elude the barbed steel, or to shake it from its hold if 

 it should happen to strike them, the harpooner seldom runs the risk of losing time and 

 patience in the chase of such a creature. Moreover, even were the animal fairly struck 

 and secured, the blubber is not of sufficient value to repay the crew for their expendi- 

 ture of time, labor, and personal risk. 



The oil that is furnished by the Beluga is of very good quality, although small in 

 quantity, and is sufficiently valuable to lead to the establishment of regular Beluga 

 hunts in the great rivers of northern America, which they ascend for some distance in 

 search of prey. 



These hunts are often very successful, and furnish a large supply of oil and skin, as 

 soon as a Beluga is seen in the river or inlet, its retreat is cut off by strong nets 



