SPERM WHALES 201 



parison of various skeletons of old animals it seems 

 that 55 feet, possibly 60, is the outside total length 

 of a male Sperm whale. 



The colour of the whale is black, getting grey 

 beneath. 



The blow hole is single, and is described as being 

 of the shape of an italic f\ it is placed near the front 

 end of the snout. Underneath the blow hole is a 

 longitudinal groove, the nature of which is obscure. 

 This whale has no definite dorsal fin, but a series of 

 lowish humps, of which the first is the most promi- 

 nent. The throat has two grooves, like those of 

 Ziphioid whales. The tail is very deeply cleft 

 terminally, and one flap lies over the other. 



The Sperm whale feeds mainly upon cuttlefish ; 

 but fishes have been found to be also eaten. It 

 is said to feed by dropping the huge lower jaw,* 

 " thereby exhibiting its polished white teeth, which 

 attract within its reach the swimming food, while 

 the creature moves along through the ocean's depths." 

 Its food is never apparently composed of larger 

 creatures than bonitos and albicores ; but the throat 

 is said to be large enough to swallow a man, and 

 naturally the Cachalotf has been identified with the 

 whale of Jonah, and also with the Leviathan of Job. 



The pectoral fins are not large, measuring about 

 six feet in a full-grown whale. 



* But MM. Pouchet and Chaves (Journ. de VAnat., 1890) think that 

 this is impossible. 



t Cachalot is a Bayonne word, and is said to come from the Catalan 

 quichal or from the Spanish quixal (tooth or jaw). The Italians call it 

 capidoglio = oil-head . 



