THE BELUGA. 
439 
The native Greenlanders hold the Narwhal in high estimation ; for, independently of its 
value, it is welcomed on each succeeding year as the harbinger of the Greenland Whale. 
The Narwhal is, however, of the greatest service to the Greenlanders, for its long ivory 
tusk is admirably adapted for the manufacture of various household implements and of 
spear-heads, so that it is the sad fate of many a Narwhal to perish by means of the tooth 
that has been extracted from its near kinsman. It is easily killed, as it possesses no very 
great power of diving, and is soon tired out by means of the inflated buoys which are attached 
to the harpoon, and offer so great a resistance to the water. It seldom descends above two 
hundred fathoms below the surface, and when it again rises is so fatigued that it is readily 
killed by a sharp spear. 
The oil which is extracted from the blubber is very delicate, but is not present in very 
great amount, as the coaling of fatty substance is seldom more than three inches in depth. 
About half a ton of oil is obtained from a large specimen. The flesh is much prized by 
the natives, and is not only eaten in its fresh state, but is carefully dried and prepared over 
the fire. 
The color of this animal is almost entirely black upon the upper surface of the body, but 
is slightly varied by streaks and patches of a deeper tint. The sides fade into grayish-white, 
diversified with sundry gray marks, and the under portions of the body are white. The tints 
of the Narwhal are rather variable even in the same individual, which assumes different hues 
at different stages of its existence. There is no fin upon the back of the Narwhal, but its 
place is indicated by a fold or ridge of skin which runs down the centre of the back, and 
in old specimens appears to have been subjected to hard usage. The pectoral fins are very 
small in proportion to the size of the animal, and appear to be of little service to the owner 
except for the purpose of preserving the balance of the body. In the upper jaw there are 
two other teeth beside the tusks, which are concealed in the gum, and are supposed to be false 
molars. 
The Narwhal is a gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, and generally associating in 
little companies of fifteen or twenty in number. It seems to be gifted with a considerable 
amount of curiosity, as Sowerby mentions that several of these animals pursued the ship from 
some distance, diving below the strange monster and playing near the rudder. It is seldom 
found in southern latitudes, but is seen in great numbers between the seventeenth and eight- 
eenth degree of north latitude. The length of an adult Narwhal is about thirteen feet. 
The Narwhal is unique as a species and common to both hemispheres. Its wonderful 
tusk — one only being developed usually, though instances occur where both are full grown — 
has given it the appellation of Sea Unicorn. It is not easy to comprehend the uses of such 
a weapon. Its great length, though formidable as a means of offense, would seem an obstruc- 
tion in feeding. The ivory of the tusk is regarded of great value. 
The Beluga, which is sometimes called the White Whale on account of the color of its 
skin, is an inhabitant of the higher latitudes, being found in great numbers in Hudson’ s Bay 
and Davis’ Straits, and is also known to frequent the northern coasts of Asia and America, 
being especially fond of the mouths of large rivers. 
The head of the Beluga is short and rounded, the forehead being convex, and the lower 
jaw not so wide Us the upper. Both jaws of this animal are well supplied with teeth, some of 
which have a tendency to fall out as the animal increases in years, and are generally wanting 
in the jaws of those specimens which are captured. The dorsal fin is absent, and the pectorals 
are tolerably large, thick, powerful, and rounded. The thick and powerful tail is bent under 
the body while the animal is swimming, and is used with such singular strength that the 
creature shoots forward with arrowy speed, whenever it is alarmed or excited. 
The color of this animal is generally a cream-white, but in some specimens the cream tint 
is dashed with red, and becomes a pale orange. When young, the Beluga is marked with 
brown spots, the general hue of the body being a slaty gray. The average length of an 
adult male is about eighteen or twenty feet. The eye of this animal is - hardly larger 
than that of man, and the iris is blue. The food of the Beluga consists chiefly of marine 
