The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-08-19
a PECULIA R ANIMAL.

a PECULIAR ANIMAL.
ss, w ,.-. II d.
The MARVIN 10 ONE or THES WON.
oERsE On TttE ARCTIC SEAS. IN
This 0ueAr G1eature IL Thought ~
Some 1ossDA tke3 Original OF the
Fableda Un4S0rn-its Tusk IL . pol
ished w. SMART OF Great gth.
One Ne best Known Of all the sea
animals pf the arctic regions is the
narwlflI. onjectursi by some to be
the original OF the tabled unicorn. The
astonishing popularity Of this graceful
cetacean lies in its, long tusk, pol
ished ivory shaft, straight as an arrow
and sharp as lance, which protrudes
from Its head to great distance. This
formidable and glittering appendage
gives to the animal striking and spec
tacular appearance. eScelling most Of
the land and water inhabitants of this
frozen world. One of the most snowy
and highly priced trophies which Lieu
tenant Robert e. Peary brought back
from Greenland was the tusk of a
narwhal, presented to the American
Museum of Natural History. This is
the record breaking specimen of the
world, measuring eight feet in length
and six inches in circumference at it's
thickest part. A realization of it's
height is gained when it is placed
alongside six foot man, the extreme
point Of the tusk overlapping his head
two feet. Besides this large one, eight
others, ranging from four to six feet
are in the collection.
An extremely rare specimen of inter-
est to naturalists is head having two
horns. one twisted in an unusual man.
ner. The big tusk is spirally grooved.
It's use is thought to have been for de-
tense. breaking through the weak ice
to obtain breathing holes and also as
weapon to secure prey. These strong.
piercing tusks could easily penetrate
the bottom Of good sized vessel if
she was fairly struck when the animal
was moving at full speed. The range
of the narwhal is from rs degrees to SO
degrees north latitude. in Greenland,
which takes in the extreme northern
lands of the western hemisphere
Whale sound. Inglefield gulf. Cape
Sabine and Payer harbor are favorite
haunts Of this animal. They are of
systematic habits. appearing at GER
tain times in schools. making excur-
sions' into the various bays and fiords
in search of food. A band of hun
dred or more form picturesque sight
when blowing through the water III
militarylike procession. the long. gilt
tering horns all rising in unison as
they come up to the surface to blow.
Their advent is hailed with delight by
the Eskimos. as they are said to be
the forerunners of the early approach
of the right whale, which, like the mar
whal. uses the same kind of food, con-
sisting Of mollusks, fish, etc. A skate
over two feet long and one foot in
breadth has been found inside a mar
whal. 1t is considered somewhat re-
markablc that the creature managed to
swallow fish whose breadth is near
ly three times as great as the width of
its own mouth. 1t Is most probable
that the fish was pierced with the mar
whal's horn and killed before it passed
down the smooth throat of the tooth
less animal.
The body of the narwhal is dotted
with black and white spots, the eyes
are small. and the blowhole is on the
top of the head. The narwhal is one of
the favorite food animals of the Green
land Eskimo and is more actively pur-
sued than any other. The big carcass
is considered rich prize by the native
hunter. The nutritious skin forms the
most delicious sort Of chewing gum
for both the men and women and is re-
garded rs choice luxury. The body
is covered to depth of three or four
inches with layer of choice blubber.
weighing half ton. yielding a large
amount Of the best grade Of oil, which
means what 4 dozen tons Of coal would
to the domestic housekeeper Of civil
cation. Without heat to dry the na-
tive's constantly wet and heavy skin
clothing and to keep the inevitable
stone vessel simmering with narwhal.
w;irus and seal meat and oil to give
light during the long arctic night last
ing from October to April, life would
be almost impossible in this region of
absolute desolation.
1t appears hardly credible to the
sportsman of civilization, yet it is all
the more tribute to the bravery and
skill Of the Eskimo hunter. that this
leviatilan of the arctic world. with IL
powerful body and tusks, could be
killed by his captor. seated in frail
skin Kayak. with only IL crude bone
harpoon as the weapon. yet such is the
case. White explorers shoot narwh;i]
and in many instances fail to secure
their game owing to the sinking of til.
body before 1t can be reached.
Tie s,irest method of capture is the
one adopted by the natives. who can
Hously pprcach them in their kayaks
while they are feeding or sporting in
the water. During these playful ex.
hibit :nns as they rise to the surface