%4% DESCRIPTION OF A NARWAL, 



those descriptions ; on the contrary, it was pointed 

 and turned from the body, as represented in the 

 second figure *. In the common Narwal, a crest 

 or ridge extends from the blowhole, along the 

 back, to the tail; in the other species, the ridge 

 commences only at the middle of the back, and 

 continues to the tail. 



If the figures given by La Cepede, of the two 

 species of Narwals, could be depended upon as 

 correct, even the colour delineations of the body 

 would afford a good mark of discrimination. In 

 the figure of the Small-headed Narwal, which La 

 Cepede informs us, he copied from a drawing by 

 Mr Brand, the spots are somewhat round, and 

 very distinct from each other ; in the other species, 

 the spots on the tail are represented as of a round- 

 ish form, but the large spots on the sides are of no 

 determinate figure, being much indented and 

 branched. The curiously shaped spots indeed of 

 the common Narwal, as represented by La Ce- 

 pede, are calculated to excite the suspicion, that 

 the whole is more a picture from fancy, than a 

 true copy of nature. 



The characters now detailed, seem to point out 

 the necessity of adding another species to the ge- 

 nus Monodon of Linnaeus, and likewise of chan- 

 ging the trivial name monoceros, which he bestowed 



* Plate VI. Fig. a. 



