SPERM WHALES AND BOTTLE-NOSED WHALES 263 



was exhibited alive for two days before being killed. A Sperm 

 Whale reported as measuring 18 feet long was stranded on the 

 Irish coast some years ago, and it was evidently a very young 

 animal, for the teeth in the lower jaw had not appeared through 

 the gums. 



It has been shown by Harmer that in the southern hemi- 

 sphere the records of fcetal lengths indicate that the Sperm 

 Whale has a period of maximum frequency of impregnation 

 and births during the latter part of the year, but that 

 the reproductive period is not limited to one part of the 

 year. 



In his description of suckling in this species Scammon says 

 that the young calf " obtains its nourishment from two teats 

 situated one on each side of the vaginal opening. In giving 

 suck it is said the female reclines on her side, when the calf 

 seizes the teat in the corner of its mouth, thereby giving the 

 milk food immediate passage to its throat. The length of 

 time the young follow the dam is not known ". 



Various authors have drawn attention to the regularity of 

 respiration in the Sperm Whale. The time occupied varies 

 slightly from animal to animal, Beale tells us, but in each 

 individual the period for each respiratory action is minutely 

 regular. A full-grown bull, he says, remains at the surface 

 10 or 11 minutes, during which he makes 60 or 70 expirations ; 

 he then submerges for an hour and ten minutes. 



When a Sperm Whale comes up to blow the " hump " is the 

 first part of the body to break surface ; then follows the upper 

 surface of the head. The blow is easily distinguishable from 

 that of any of the whalebone whales, for instead of rising 

 perpendicularly, the condensed vapour is ejected obliquely 

 from the blowhole. At the end of the respiratory period at 

 the surface, when, as the whalers said, "his spoutings are 

 out", the animal submerges rapidly; the head is dipped, 

 the body rounded, the flukes come completely out of the 

 water and the creature finally disappears from sight, going 

 down head foremost with the long axis of the body almost 

 vertical. 



When undisturbed the Sperm Whale swims along at a speed 

 of 3 or 4 knots, but when pursued it is capable of a speed of 

 10 or 12 knots. 



