Dclphinorhynchus microptcrus was first described by De Blninville. It inhabits the seas of the coasts of Europe.
Monodon monoccros, the Narwhal, Unicorn, or Unicorn-Whale. it is the No/soden microcepholus and Nanchalus A udersonianua of Desmarest. When young it is black, but when old it is whitish marbled. Although it has sometimes two tusks, it has more frequently one, from which it derives its name of Unicorn. It inhabits the Northern Ocean, and is not unfrequent on the coast of Scotland.
The use of the Welt has been a matter for discussion. Dr. Scoresby has expressed an opinion that as the end of the tusk is smooth and clean, while the rest of it is rough and dirty, and as a broken tusk was found rubbed and rounded, it may be used to pierce thin ice for the purpose of enabling the animal to respire without the necessity of retreating into open water. Again, he states that his father flea him the contents of a Nnrwhal's stomach, consisting of several half digested fishes, with others of which the bones only remained. There were the remains of a cuttlo-fish, part of the spine of a flat-fish, pro bably email turbot, and a skate almost entire. The last was two feet three inches in length, and one foot eight inches inlbreadth, comprising the bones of the head, back, and tail, the side-fins, and considerable portions of the muscular substance. It appears, he observes, remarkable that the Narwhal, an animal without teeth, with a small mouth and stiff lips, should be able to catch and swallow so large a fish as a skate, the breadth of which is nearly three times as great as the width of its own mouth. As the animal in which these remains were found had a tusk of seven feet, Dr. Scoresby apprehended that this instrument had been employed in the capture of the fishes on which it had recently fed. It seemed probable to him that the skates had been pierced with the horn and killed before they were devoured ; otherwise, he observes, it is difficult to imagine how the Narwhal could have swallowed them, or how a fish of any activity would have permitted itself to be taken, and sucked down the throat of a smooth mouthed animal without teeth to detain and compress it.
Narwhals swim with great swiftness. When at the surface for respiration they blow repeatedly with considerable force, and then frequently lie motionless for several minutes with their back and head just above water. Dr. Scoresby describes them as often sporting about his ship, sometimes in bands of about twenty together, often elevating their long tusks and crossing them with each other as if they were fencing. They often uttered a very unusual sound resembling the gurgling of water in the throat, which Dr. Scoresby thinks produced it, as it only occurred when they reared their tusks, with the front of the head and mouth out of the water. Several of them followed the ship, seeming to be attracted by curiosity. As the water was perfectly transparent, they could be seen descending to the keel and playing about the rudder for a considerable time. Sir Joseph Banks stated to Dr. Fleming, who has published a very interesting account of one in the Wernerian Transactions,' that a Narwhal stranded on the Lincolnshire coast was found with the whole of its body buried in the mud of the beach, and seemed safely and securely waiting the return of the tide.
The blubber of the Narwhal yields a very superior oil, which, as well as the flesh, is considered a dainty by the Greenlander. It is regarded as the herald of the Mysticete, in whose neighbourhood the former is said generally to be found—perhaps from partaking of the same food. When harpooned it swiftly dives to about 200 fathoms, and on its return to the surface is killed by lances. The Greenlander drives them to fissures in the ice, where they come up to respire, and kills them with harpoons, &c. The ivory of the tusk is considered superior to that of the elephant ; it is very dense and hard, very white, is not subject to become yellow, and is susceptible of a high polish. They formerly brought a high price, and many virtues were attributed to them : they still form a valuable article in commerce. The celebrated throne of the Danish kings is stated to be made of the tusks of this animal.