146 
NATURAL II 1ST O II V. 
body ; and its root enters into the socket above a foot and 
a half. Notwithstanding its appointments for combat, 
these long and pointed tusks, amazing strength, and un- 
matchless celerity, the narwhal is one ot the most hat inless 
and peaceful inhabitants of the ocean. It is seen constantly 
and inoffensively sporting among the other great monsters 
of the deep, no way attempting to injure them, but pleased 
in their company. The Greenlanders call the narwhal the 
fore runner of the whale; for wherever it is seen, the whale 
is shortly after sure to follow. This may arise as well bom 
the natural passion for society in these animals, as from both 
living upon the same food, which are the insects described 
in the preceding section. These powerful fishes make war 
upon no other living creature ; and, though furnished with 
instruments to spread general destruction, are as innocent 
and as peaceful as a drove of oxen. The narwhal is much 
swifter than the whale, and would never be taken by the 
fishermen but lor those very tusks, which at first appear to 
be its principal defence. These animals are always seen in 
herds of several at a time ; and whenever they aie attacked, 
they crowd together in such a manner, that they are mutually 
embarrassed by their tusks. By these they are often locked 
together, and are prevented irom sinking to the bottom. lr 
seldom happens, therefore, but the fishermen make sure of 
one or two of the hindmost, which very well reward their 
trouble. 
The Cachalot, or Spermaceti Whale, has several 
teeth in the under jaw, but none in the upper. As there are 
no less than seven distinctions among whales, so also there 
are the same number of distinctions in the tribe we are dc- 
scribintr. This tribe is not of such enormous size as the 
whale, properly so called, not being above sixty feet long 
and sixteen fee't high. In consequence of their being more 
slender, they are much more active than the common whale ; 
ihev remain a longer time at the bottom, and afford a smaliei 
quantity of oil. As in the common whale the head was seen 
to make a third part of its bulk, so in this species the head 
is so large as to make one half of the whole, ffhe cachalot 
is as destructive among the lesser fishes as the whale is 
harmless : and can at one gulph swallow a shoal of fishes 
down its enormous gullet. Linnaeus tells us that this fish 
pursues and terrifies the dolphins and porpesses so much as 
often to drive them on shore. 
But, how formidable soever this fish may be to its fellows 
of thedeep, it is by far the most valuable, and the most 
