106 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



is more especially found on the line-currents, which extend 

 from the equator to about the seventh degree of north and south 

 latitudes, yet it has been noticed in the Mediterranean, and one 

 individual, a stray sheep indeed, has even been captured in the 

 Thames. 



The Narwal, or Unicorn-fish, attains a length of from twenty to 

 twenty-five feet. He is of a grey-white colour, punctured with 

 many white spots, and as his head is not disproportionate to the 

 length of his body, may rank among the handsomest cetaceans. 

 He distinguishes himself, as is well known, from all other 

 members of the family by the long twisted tooth or horn pro- 

 jecting horizontally from the upper jaw. This mighty weapon, 

 the true use of which has not yet been fully ascertained, was 

 formerly sold at a very high price, as proceeding from the fa- 

 bulous unicorn; at present, it is only paid according to the 

 worth of its excellent ivory, which is harder, heavier, and less 

 liable to turn yellow than that of the elephant. The whalers 

 are therefore highly delighted when they can pick up a chance 

 narwal, but this only succeeds in narrow bays ; for the unicorn- 

 fish is an excellent swimmer, and extremely watchful. In spite 

 of his menacing appearance, he is a harmless sociable creature, 

 fond of gambolling and crossing swords playfully with his com- 

 peers. It is remarkable that the opening of the mouth of so 

 huge an animal is scarcely large enough to admit the hand of a 

 man. Scoresby found in the stomach of a narwal remains of 

 cuttle fishes, which seem to form his chief aliment, besides 

 pieces of skates and plaice. The narwal is frequent about 

 Davis' Straits and Disco Bay, but is nowhere found in the 

 Pacific, having most likely not yet discovered the north-western 

 passage. He rarely wanders into the temperate seas, yet one 

 was caught, in 1800, near Boston in Lincolnshire, and two others, 

 in 1736, on the German coast of the North Sea. 



The Dolphin tribe is distinguished from the cachalot by a 

 more proportionate head; from the narwal by the absence of 

 the long horn ; and generally possesses sharp teeth in both jaws, 

 all of one form. The number of species is very great ; Linnaeus 

 distinguished four sperm whales and three dolphins ; now many 

 naturalists acknowledge but one species of the former, while the 

 dolphins have increased to more than thirty, and many are as 

 yet unknown. 



