OEDEE OE CETACEA. 
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nor fight, and they fall under the blows of tbe sailors wbo are 
in tbe boats (Fig. 22). 
Tbe Icelanders manufacture witb tbe Narwhal’s tusks tbeir 
arrows for tbe chase, and tbe poles wbicb they use in tbe construc- 
tion of tbeir buts ; but tbey do not eat its flesh, because tbey 
believe it to be venemous.* Tbis is not tbe case, however, witb 
tbe Greenlanders, and other inhabitants of tbe north, wbo esteem 
it excellent. Tbey dry it by exposing it to tbe smoke. Tbe 
oil furnished by tbe Narwhal is, it is said, preferable to that of tbe 
Whale. 
Naturalists are not agreed as to tbe use of tbe Narwhal’s 
formidable weapon. Tbey say that tbey use it in tbeir attacks on 
tbe Whale, and that tbey kill tbis monster by running tbeir swords 
into its belly. Lacepede says that tbeir tusks have been found 
deeply implanted in tbe bodies of Whales ; but other authors 
formally deny that battles ever take place between these two 
terrible combatants. 
Narwhals sometimes rush witb prodigious speed and force 
against vessels, wbicb tbey no doubt take for some gigantic prey. 
If tbe animal attack tbe ship on tbe side as it is sailing, tbe tooth, 
imbedded in tbe wood, breaks off ; but if it attack it from behind, 
tbe Narwhal remains fixed to tbe ship ; it is then dragged along 
and towed till it dies. 
Certain naturalists, relying on tbe fact that tbe Narwhal’s tusk 
is smooth towards tbe end, wbicb is sometimes rounded and, as it 
were, worn away, have concluded that tbe animal uses its born 
for piercing tbe ice, when it wants to come up and breathe, and 
to save itself a long journey to tbe open water. Others have 
thought that these traces of wear and tear of its weapon arise 
from tbe friction of it in sand or against rocks, when tbe animal 
is looking there for its food, wbicb consists of Cuttle-fish, flat fish, 
Cod, Fay, Oysters, and other Mollusks. And, lastly, it has been 
stated that the Narwhal uses its natural lance for attacking its 
prey, for killing it, and perhaps also for tearing it up before it 
devours it. Thus tbe Narwhal’s tooth would seem to be at tbe 
same time an instrument wbicb serves to satisfy tbe wants of tbe 
* The name this animal hears was given to it hy the Icelanders. The meaning 
. of the word is “ Whale that feeds on dead bodies ; ” for the word nar in their language 
means dead body or carcass, and the word JVhal, Whale. 
