MAMMALIA— WHALE. 397 



.Straight as an arrow, about the thickness of the small of a man's leg, wreathed 

 in the manner we sometimes see twisted bars of iron. It tapers to a sharp 

 point ; and is whiter, heavier, and harder than ivory. It is generally seen 

 to spring from the left side of the head, directly forward, in a straight line 

 with the body ; and its root enters into the socket above a foot and a half. 

 Notwithstanding its appointments for combat, this long and pointed tusk, 

 amazing strength, and matchless celerity, the narwhal is one of the most 

 harmless and peaceful inhabitants of the ocean. It is seen constantly and 

 inoffensively sporting among the other great monsters of the deep, no way 

 attempting to injure them, but pleased in their company. The Greenland- 

 ers call the narwhal the forerunner of the whale ; for Avherever it is seen, 

 the whale is shortly after sure to follow. This may arise as Avell from the 

 natural passion for society in these animals, as from both living upon the 

 same food. The narwhal is much swifter than the whale, and would never 

 be taken by the fishermen, but for those very tusks, which at first appear 

 to be its principal defence. These animals are always seen in herds of 

 several at a time ; and whenever they are attacked, they crowd together 

 in such a manner, that they are mutually embarrassed by their tusks. By 

 these, they are often locked together, and are prevented from sinking to the 

 bottom. It seldom happens therefore, but the fishermen make sure of one 

 or two of the hindmost, which very well reward their trouble. 



THE GREAT HEADED CACHALOT, OR 

 SPERMACETI WHALE.i 



Tins tribe is not of such enormous size as the whale, properly so called, not 

 being above sixty feet long and sixteen feet high. In consequence of their 

 being more slender, they are much more active than the common whale ; 



' Physcter macrocephalus, Desm. The genus Physefer has eighteen to twenty-three 

 inferior teeth on each side of the jaw ; upper jaw broad, elevated, without teeth, or with 

 these short and concealed in the giim ; lower jaw elongated, narrow, corresponding to a 

 furrow of the upper, and armed with thick and conical teeth, entering into correspondinff 

 cavities of the upper jaw ; spiracular orifices united at the upper part of the snout ; a dorsal 

 fin in some species, a simple eminence on others ; cartilaguious cavities in the superior 

 region of the head, filled vrith oily matter. 



