38 3 
KARWHAL. 
teeth, some of which were of the enormous length 
of three yards. 
The error of supposing this armour of the 
narwhal a horn, has led some writers to suppose, 
that as among quadrupeds the female was often 
found without horns, so these instruments of de- 
fence were onfy to be found in the male. This, 
however, has often been contradicted by actual ex- 
perience ; both sexes are found armed in this man- 
ner ; and in all the varieties of the horn, whether 
wreathed or smooth, bended or straight, it is uni- 
formly strong, sharp, and deeply fixed. There ean 
be no doubt, but that an instrument of this nature 
is intended for the defence of the animal on which 
it is bestowed. It is thus that the narwhal uses it ; 
whenever it is urged to employ this terrible instru- 
ment, it is said that it drives directly forward 
against its enemy, and pierces him through. 
Rut notwithstanding this implement of war, and 
its amazing velocity and strength, the narwhal is 
one of the most harmless and peaceable inhabi- 
tants of the ocean. It wants teeth for chewing, 
and a throat for swallowing any bulky prey : of 
consequence it commits hostility against no ani- 
mal ; but is constantly seen sporting inoffensively 
among the great monsters of the deep, never at- 
tempting to injure any of them. It is called by 
the Greenlanders the forerunner of the whale ; for 
wherever it is seen, that fish seldom fails soon to 
appear. The manners of these two species nearly 
Tesemble each other ; the food of both is those 
insects which we shall hereafter describe; and both 
are peaceable and innocent, though qualified by 
their strength or their arms to spread general des- 
truction. 
So little does this fish avail itself of those im- 
plements with which nature has provided it, that 
they appear rather an impediment, than a means 
