OEDEE OF CETACEA. 83 



seamen, is an animal nearly akin to the Narwhal, but it is not 

 provided with a tusk, and it has some teeth situated in the front 

 half only of the jaws, which are conical, oblique, often truncated 

 from attrition, and in the upper jaw not unfrequently disappearing. 

 These teeth vary in number, but there is usually a row of nine 

 above and eight below, occasionally one more or less. The colour 

 of the Beluga is wholly white, but the yomig are black. In 

 length it rarely exceeds fifteen feet. According to Mr. E. Bro^vn, 

 this animal " is, beyond aU comparison, so far as its importance 

 to the Greenlander and Eskimo are concerned, the Whale of 

 Greenland. Like the Narwhal, it is indigenous ; but it is only 

 seen on the coast of Danish Greenland during the winter months, 

 leaving the coast south of 72" N. lat. in June, and roaming 

 about at the head of Baffin's Bay and the western shore of Davis's 

 Strait during the smnmer. In October it is seen to go west, 

 not south ; but in winter it can be observed, hi company with the 

 Narwhal, at the broken places in the ice. Its range may be said 

 to be the same as that of the Narwhals ; and during the summer 

 months corresponds with that of the Right Whale, of which it is 

 considered the precursor. It, however, wanders farther south than 

 the Narwhal, being found as a regular denizen as far south as 

 63" N. lat., on the European coast, though on the opposite, 

 or American side of the Atlantic, it reaches much farther 

 south, being quite common in the St. Lawrence river. The 

 Greenlanders, during the summer, kill great numbers of them, 

 and preserve their oil and dry their flesh for winter use. Of 

 this animal and the Narwhal about 500 are yearly caught 'hj 

 the Greenlanders ; but the majority of this number are Belugas. 

 It feeds on Crustaceans, Fishes, and Guttles, and in the stomach 

 is generally found sand. The Greenlanders often jocularly remark, 

 in reference to this, that the Kelelhiah takes in ballast. Great 

 numbers are captured by means of nets at the entrance of fjords 

 and inlets, or in the sounds between islands. The young are 

 darker coloured than the adult, and can at once be distinguished 

 among the herds of the adidts, which are of a pinky- white colour. 

 It is said to be rarely seen far from land. The males and females 

 go together in the herd, and do not separate, as has been stated. 

 Their blast is not unmusical ; and, when undoi' the water, they 

 emit a peculiar whistling sound, which might be mistaken for the 



g2 



s 



