148 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



SPECIES I. 



PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS, 



THE GREAT-HEADED CACHALOT, or GREAT SPERMACETI 



WHALE.* 



This species grows to the length of nearly sixty feet, is 

 often thirty in circumference in the largest part of the 

 head, the head forming by far the most conspicuous 

 part of the animal, occupying the third part of the body. 

 It has the appearance of an immense box, of a square 

 form, angular at the sides, and truncated before. The 

 upper is of much greater length than the lower, is also 

 broader, its edge forming a very considerable projection, 

 and folded back towards the centre, where there is an 

 oval longitudinal cavity destined to receive the lower 

 jaw. On each side of the upper jaw is a row of holes 

 for receiving the teeth of the lower jaw, and in the inter- 

 stices separating these cavities there are about twenty 

 small teeth placed horizontally, just appearing a little 

 above the jaw. It has been supposed that the teeth be- 

 come longer, thicker, and more curved, in proportion to 

 the age of the animal ; the ordinary length being about 

 six inches, and three inches in circumference at the base. 

 These teeth are sharp on the side opposite to the place 

 of insertion, but present a smooth, plain, and oblique 

 surface, filling up the intervals that separate the cavities; 

 which oblique surface is only visible, and from not at- 

 tending to the form and disposition of their teeth, it has 



* Svnonymes. — Parmacitty Whale, in common language. French 



Cachalot, German. Potfisch, Dutch. Potvisch, Norwegian. Kashelot 



Potfisck Tiveld-Hual, Icelandic. Grand-Cachalot, Bonnat. Encyclo. 

 Cachalot Macrocephale, La Cepede, p. 166. 



