202 A BOOK OF' WHALES 



The Cachalot 'will remain under water from fifty 

 minutes to an hour and a quarter. When it spouts 

 it does so for the space of about three seconds, 

 and the column of vapour ejected can be seen from 

 the masthead at a distance of three to five miles. 

 The spouting of the Sperm whale can be readily 

 distinguished from that of other whales from the 

 fact that the blow hole is single, and the column 

 of breath condensed is also a single fountain, not a 

 double jet, as in other whales. Moreover, as the 

 blow hole is situated further forwards than in other 

 whales the jet is not directed upwards but forwards ; 

 these characters serve the spouting of the Sperm 

 whale to be clearly distinguished. 



This whale is intertropical in range,* and is only 

 an accidental visitor to the arctic regions. It travels 

 in "schools." When solitary individuals are seen, 

 such as those which have been rarely cast up on our 

 shores, they seem to be generally old males. 



This great " sea-should'ring whale" indulges in 

 a variety of antics ; it will leap completely out of the 

 water, coming down with a heavy splash that can 

 be seen from the masthead at a distance of ten miles. 

 These active leaps are said to be indulged in by the 

 whale for the purpose of ridding itself of certain 

 external parasites. The whale will also poke its head 

 out of the water to look or listen, assuming then a 

 perfectly upright position. 



The great strength of the whale is indicated by 



* Mr. Beale's work upon the Sperm whale is the classic in its habits 

 and pursuit. 



