162 NATURAL HISTORY IFishes. 



" the lower jaw ; the teeth were flat on the top, and stood 

 " out only an half an inch without the gums." Sir Robert 

 says these had no spout-hole, but Mr Pennant, with more ap- 

 pearance of truth, thinks what Sir Robert took for nostrils, 

 by being placed at the extremity of the nose, was that part 

 which is peculiar to the whale-kind, and wanting in none, 

 though differently placed in different subjects. 



This kind had two pectoral fins, and a rough space on the 

 back, but no fin or spine. Whether spermaceti was found in 

 this. Sir Robert was uncertain, but it is probable there was, 

 as all the known whales of this genus which frequent the Bri- 

 tish coasts, are found to yield more or less of this. 



Species 3. — The High-Jinned Cachalot. 



Balaena macrocephala tripinnis, qua^ in mandibula inferiore denies habet niinub 

 inflexos et in planum desinentes, fiib. Phal. 43. Rail Syn, Pise. 16. Brit. 

 Zool. 47. Plijseter Tuisio, Lin. Sj/s. 107. 



One of this species is recorded by Sir Robert Sibbald, 

 which was thrown ashore on the Orkneys in 1687- This was 

 a very large female. The spout-hole was placed in the front , 

 the head, according to his description, was eight or nine feel 

 high ; toothed only in the lower jaw ; the teeth were slightly bent, 

 much compressed on the sides, the point rather blunt than 

 flat ; the bottom thin, having a very narrow but long orifice, 

 or slit, holloAved to the depth of five inches and a quarter, in 



