100 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
August 12.—Lat. 78° 41’, long. 15° 00’. Colour of the water, 
dark green ; temperature at the surface, 86°. Lay becalmed in 
a ‘“‘bight”’ formed by the ice all day; many Narwhals about, 
most of which were males with “horns.” Early in the morning 
I discovered several of these animals lying motionless at the 
surface, evidently asleep. Manning a boat we pulled quietly 
towards one in this position. As we slowly approached I enjoyed 
.an excellent opportunity of noting its position and movements. 
After we left the ship, the animal raised its head above water 
and breathed for a brief interval, relapsing immediately after- 
wards into its former position. At the distance of a few feet 
before harpooning it we could easily see that the animal 
was in a slightly bent position, its tail being immediately under 
the surface, the pectoral fins outstretched with their surfaces 
horizontal, the head weighted with a long protruding tusk 
pointing downwards, and only a small part of the back above the 
surface. The animal was absolutely motionless, not the slightest 
trace of any movement being visible,—the spiracle, or “ blow- 
hole,” being immersed, respiration could not possibly have been 
going on. From these facts, and a number of somewhat similar 
observations which I have previously made, I conclude that 
during sleep, animation being partially suspended, the period 
during which these animals are able to remain under water, with 
the respiratory organs excluded from the atmosphere, becomes 
extended. Let the Narwhal, after having completed the process 
of respiration and haying all its plexuses stored with oxygenated 
blood, relapse into sleep. During this condition the animal 
remains motionless, and the position which the body assumes is 
involuntary and becomes regulated by hydrostatic laws. If the 
individual in question be provided with a “horn,” as the 
protruding tusk is called, the whole of the head will probably be 
immersed ; if without, as in the case of the female, the opening 
of the ‘‘blowhole” may appear at the surface; but in no case, 
as far as I have been able to observe, does respiration go on until 
a protracted period having elapsed, when the animal either 
awakes or by a reflex movement raises its head, if need be to the 
surface, and unconsciously respires. Remarkable as these facts 
may appear, the matter does not rest here; many intelligent 
whalemen have long held that the cetaceans possess the 
power of remaining asleep, for a considerable period, under 
