THE WHALE TRIBE. 199 



to a line, with a buoy at its extremity. The use of the buoy is to 

 harass and retard the Narwhal when struck, and to give notice 

 when it is about to rise. 



The Man ATI is somewhat shaped in the head and the 

 body like a seal ; it has also the fore legs or hands pretty much 

 in the same manner, short and webbed, but with four claws only ; 

 these also are shorter in proportion than in the former animal, and 

 placed nearer the head ; so that they can scarcely assist its mo- 

 tions upon land. But it is in the hinder parts that it chiefly 

 differs from all others of the seal kind ; for the tail is perfectly 

 that of a fish, being spread out broad like a fan, and wanting even 

 the vestiges of those bones which make the legs and feet in others 

 of its kind. The largest of these are about twenty-six feet in 

 length ; the skin is blackish, very tough, and hard ; when cut, as 

 black as ebony ; and there are a few hairs scattered, like bristles, 

 of about an inch long. The eyes are very small, in proportion to 

 the animal's head ; and the ear-holes, for it has no external ears, 

 are so narrow as scarce to admit a pin's head. The tongue is so 

 short, that some have pretended it has none at all ; and the teeth 

 are composed only of two solid white bones, running the whole 

 length of both jaws, and formed merely for chewing, and not 

 tearing its vegetable food. The female has breasts placed forward, 

 like those of a woman ; and she brings forth but one at a time : 

 this she holds with her paws to her bosom j there it sticks, and 

 accompaniis her wherever she goes. 



This animal can scarcely be called amphibious, as it never 

 entirely leaves the water, only advancing the head out of the 

 stream to reach the grass on the river sides. Its food is entirely 

 upon vegetables ; and, therefore, it is never found far in the open 

 sea, but chiefly in the large rivers of South America ; and often 

 above two thousand miles from the ocean. It is also found in the 

 seas near Kamschatka, and feeds upon the weeds that grow near 

 the shore. These animals, when unmolested, keep together in 

 large companies, and surround their young ones. They bring 

 forth most commonly in autumn ; and it is supposed they go with 

 young eighteen months, for the time of generation is in spring. 



