24$ DESCRIPTION OF A NARWAL. 



The blowholes * or nares were united at the pos- 

 terior part into one tube, destined to receive the 

 upper end of the trachea. In passing through the 

 skull they were separated from each other by a 

 bonny septum. This division of the nares ceased 

 a few inches before it reached the external open- 

 ing. Between the anterior end of this septum and 

 the exterior orifice of the nares, there were two 

 cavities situated, one on each side, immediately 

 under the skin. Each of these cavities was capa- 

 ble of containing about an English pint of water. 

 In regard to the use of these cavities or bags, we 

 can only hazard the conjecture, that they may 

 probably aid the animal in the act of respiration. 

 The external" opening of the nares was in the form 

 of a crescent, the forks of which pointed towards 

 the forehead, and it was about an inch and a half 

 in diameter. 



The preceding description, which I have de- 

 tailed with all possible fidelity and accuracy, by 

 no means corresponds with the account of the 

 Common Narwal, as given us by La Cepede, the 

 latest writer on the order Cetacea. It agrees, 

 however, pretty nearly with the account of the 



* Whales seldom throw out water in any quantity 

 through the nares. but the act of respiration merely pro- 

 duces a hissing noise ; hence I have employed the term 

 blowbofn instead of spout-holes, as being more appropri- 

 ate and just. 



