MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 409 



we are informed) there still remains an ancient 

 Throne, composed entirely of the Ivory of the 

 Narwhal teeth, being formerly the seat of slate 

 of the Danish Monarchs. 



The 1 Narwhal however thus endued with this 

 most formidable instrument of defence, is natural- 

 ly a timid and inoffensive animal, rarely making 

 iise of its physical powers, excepting when closely 

 attacked and wounded ; and as it has no teeth 

 but the tusk in the upper jaw, previously des- 

 cribed, and as its gullet is extremely contracted, 

 it lives, like the common Whale, upon the sea- 

 blubber, and the smaller fry, peculiar to the seas 

 which this animal frequents. 



But the most important of the Whale tribes, are 

 the Common, and the Sperma Cell Whales, which 

 not only are of very extraordinary magnitude, but 

 also, furnish in vast proportions, those valuable 

 articles, upon which our arctic commerce so 

 mainly depends. 



The Balance Mysticelus, or Common Whale, 

 (for there are six varieties of the Balaenae genus,) 

 is the largest of a'l known animals; measuring, in 

 some instances, more than one hundred feet in 

 length, and weighing above a hundred thou- 

 sand pounds ; but those of late years captured, 

 have rarely exceeded two thirds of the above pro- 

 portions. 



It principally inhabits the seas approaching 

 the Poles, but occasionally is to be seen in milder 



