4 
MAMMALIA—WHALE. 397 
straight as an arruw, about the thickness of the small of a man’s leg, wreathed 
im us Manner we sometimes see twisted bars of iron. It tapers to a sharp 
poi 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. 
Notwithtanding 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 wherever it is seen, 
the whale ts shortly after sure to follow. This may arise as well from the 
natural passion for society in these animals, as from both living upon the 
sanie food. The narwhal is much swifter than the whale, and would never 
be .aken 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 ata time; and whenever they are attacked, they crowd together 
in such a manner, that they are mutually embarrassed by their tusks. By 
hese, 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 th: hindmost, which very well reward their trouble. 
THE GREA,T..HEA DED ~CACHALOT 0B 
SPERMACETI WHALE. i 
Luis tribe 1» 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; 
1 Physeter macrocephalus, Desm. The genus Physeter 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 gum; fore jaw elongated, narrow, corresponding to a 
furrow of the upper, and armed with thick and conical teeth, entering into corresponding 
cavities of the upper jaw ; spiracular orifices united at the upper part of the snout ; a dorsa 
fin in some species, a simple eminence on others; cartilaginous cay ties in the superior 
region of the head, filled with oily matter. 
