THE BELUGA. 439 



The native Greenlanders hold the Narwhal in high estimation ; for, independently of its 

 value, it is welcomed on each succeeding year as the harbinger of the Greenland Whale. 



The Narwhal is, however, of the greatest service to the Greenlanders, for its long ivory 

 tusk is admirably adapted for the manufacture of various household implements and of 

 spear-heads, so that it is the sad fate of many a Narwhal to perish by means of the tooth 

 that has been extracted from its near kinsman. It is easily killed, as it possesses no very 

 great power of diving, and is soon tired out by means of the inflated buoys which are attached 

 to the harpoon, and offer so great a resistance to the water. It seldom descends above two 

 hundred fathoms below the surface, and when it again rises is so fatigued that it is readily 

 killed by a sharp spear. 



The oil which is extracted from the blubber is very delicate, but is not present in very 

 great amount, as the coating of fatty substance is seldom more than three inches in depth. 

 About half a ton of oil is obtained from a large specimen. The flesh is much prized by 

 the natives, and is not only eaten in its fresh state, but is carefully dried and prepared over 

 the fire. 



The color of this animal is almost entirely black upon the upper surface of the body, but 

 is slightly varied by streaks and patches of a deeper tint. The sides fade into grayish-white, 

 diversified with sundry gray marks, and the under portions of the body are white. The tints 

 of the Narwhal are rather variable even in the same individual, which assumes different hues 

 at different stages of its existence. There is no fin upon the back of the Narwhal, but its 

 place is indicated by a fold or ridge of skin which runs down the centre of the back, and 

 in old specimens appears to have been subjected to hard usage. The pectoral fins are very 

 small in proportion to the size of the animal, and appear to be of little service to the owner 

 except for the purpose of preserving the balance of the body. In the upper jaw there are 

 two other teeth beside the tusks, which are concealed in the gum, and are supposed to be false 

 molars. 



The Narwhal is a gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, and generally associating in 

 little companies of fifteen or twenty in number. It seems to be gifted with a considerable 

 amount of curiosity, as SoWerby mentions that several of these animals pursued the ship from 

 some distance, diving below the strange monster and playing near the rudder. It is seldom 

 found in southern latitudes, but is seen in great numbers between the seventeenth and eight- 

 eenth degree of north latitude. The length of an adult Narwhal is about thirteen feet. 



The Narwhal is unique as a species and common to both hemispheres. Its wonderful 

 tusk — one only being developed usually, though instances occur where both are full grown — 

 has given it the appellation of Sea Unicorn. It is not easy to comprehend the uses of such 

 a weapon. Its great length, though formidable as a means of offense, would seem an obstruc- 

 tion in feeding. The ivory of the tusk is regarded of great value. 



The Beluga, which is sometimes called the White Whale on account of the color of its 

 skin, is an inhabitant of the higher latitudes, being found in great numbers in Hudson's Bay 

 and Davis' Straits, and is also known to frequent the northern coasts of Asia and America, 

 being especially fond of the mouths of large rivers. 



The head of the Beluga is short and rounded, the forehead being convex, and the lower 

 jaw not so wide as the upper. Both jaws of this animal are well supplied with teeth, some of 

 which have a tendency to fall out as the animal increases in years, and are generally wanting 

 in the jaws of those specimens which are captured. The dorsal fin is absent, and the pectorals 

 are tolerably large, thick, powerful, and rounded. The thick and powerful tail is bent under 

 the body while the animal is swimming, and is used with such singular strength that the 

 creature shoots forward with arrowy speed, whenever it is alarmed or excited. 



The color of this animal is generally a cream-white, but in some specimens the cream tint 

 is dashed with red, and becomes a pale orange. When young, the Beluga is marked with 

 brown spots, the general hue of the body being a slaty gray. The average length of an 

 adult male is about eighteen or twenty feet. The eye of this animal is hardly larger 

 than that of man, and the iris is blue. The food of the Beluga consists chiefly of marine 



