CETACEA. 



Spearing the Narwhal. 



The Narwhal is from thirty to forty feet long, and has an ivory tusk projecting from the left side of his 

 head, from five to nine feet in length. It is said to possess two of these projections, the right one 

 remaining within the head. The use of this tusk is unknown, some supposing that it is employed to dig 

 up sea-weeds for the animal's food, and others that it is used to transfix his living prey. This tusk used 

 to be sold, as the horn of the unicorn, till better knowledge prevailed. The Greenlander finds, in the 

 Narwhal, oil, food, weapons and ropes. 



To the rapidity, the great powers, and the ferocity of the Narwhal when attacked, many writers have 

 borne testimony. Its form is admirably adapted for cleaving the waters, and we can well believe that the 



shock of its wenpon, driven full tilt against an enemy, must 

 produce a terrible effect. The ribs of the stoutest boat would 

 be transfixed by the dint of such a blow, far more easily than 

 was ever shield by the lance of knight in battle or tournament. 

 Several instances have indeed been known in which the ani- 

 mal has plunged his weapon deep into the thick oak timbers of 

 a ship, when it hav- fortunately snapped short, the fragment 

 remaining fixed in the orifice, so as to plug it up. A portion 

 of wood taken from the hull of a ship with a piece of 



fl94) 



Narwhal 



