DESCRIPTION OF A NARWAL. I33 



general, however, according to La Cepede, the 

 head occupies only a tenth part of the length of 

 the body, or nearly so. The forehead rose sud- 

 denly from the snout, as may be seen in the plate *, 

 and then proceeded nearly in a horizontal direc- 

 tion, for a few inches, when it became slightly 

 elevated. Over this elevation^ in the forepart of 

 which the blowhole, afterwards to be noticed, is 

 situated, the head was four feet two inches and a 

 half in circumference. The forepart of the 

 head was rounded, and when viewed from be- 

 fore, resembled a ball. 



Behind this elevation on the head, there was a 

 slight depression, which served to point out the 

 line of separation between the head and the body. 

 The back swelled gradually, to within a few 

 inches beyond the paws, (or pectoral fins), where 

 it appeared to be thickest. There was ai slight 

 elevation on the back, immediately above the 

 genitalia. From this elevation, a small ridge 

 proceeded, which continued to within a few 

 inches of the division of the tail. Over the be- 

 ginning of this ridge, the body was four feet four 

 inches in circumference. On the belly, there 

 was likewise a ridge extending from the anus 

 to the tail. On both sides of the animal, there 

 were likewise ridges, similar to those on the back 

 and under-side of the body. 1 hese ridges com- 

 menced near the middle of the body, and increas- 



* 3 



* Plate VI. 



