1G0 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



chiefly an inhabitant of the seas which wash the shores 

 of New England. It is found in the Greenland Seas ; and 

 is occasionally seen off the coast of France and Britain. 

 In 1741, one was taken near Bayonne in France; it 

 yielded ten tons of spermaceti, which was reckoned of a 

 superior quantity to that of the large spermaceti whale. 

 In its stomach was found a round mass of seven pounds 

 weight, which was taken for Ambergrease. 



The substance called spermaceti is lodged in particular 

 cells in the head, near the seat of the brain. It is ex- 

 tracted by making a hole in the skull.* This species 

 yields a very fine and prodigious quantity of it; and its 

 blubber is very productive of oil of a finer quality than 

 that of the Greenland whale. 



The blunt-headed Cachalot is a bold and daring ani- 

 mal, and swims with great swiftness, and is observed by 

 some naturalists to be more dangerous than any other of 

 the same species, and when attacked turns on its assail- 

 ants with open mouth, with which it defends itself, 

 and throws itself on its back. 



If we attend to the form of the body, the structure of 

 the head, the number and structure of the teeth, it seems 

 to constitute a distinct species. The Spermaceti whale 

 thrown ashore near Bayonne was described to be of the 

 following dimensions : — 



Feet. In. 



Total length 49 



Greatest circumference at the Fins 27 



From the extremity of the tail fin, to the opening of the 



anus 14 



Length of the penis 4 



Sheath inclosing it 1 6 



Diameter of the penis 7 



Distance of the extremities of the two lobes of the tail . 13 6 



See pages 156 and 157. 



