264 WHALES AND DOLPHINS 



The blubber of the Sperm Whale, 14 inches thick in places, 

 is a valuable source of oil, but the most important reservoir of 

 the finest spermaceti oil is situated in the head. The skull in 

 shape resembles a wheel-less chariot — indeed the whalers used 

 to refer to it as the " coach " or " sleigh ". The bones forming 

 the posterior portion rise vertically in a crest 3 or 4 feet high, 

 concave towards the front, and from the base of this crest the 

 upper jaw-bones project forward as a triangular rostrum with 

 lateral edges curved upwards. A rough basin-shaped cavity 

 is thus formed, in and above which lies the huge mass of tissue 

 making up the bulk of the head. The lower part of this mass 

 is fibrous, elastic and oily, the " junk " of the whaling men, 

 whilst above and somewhat to the right of the canal passing 

 from blowhole to lungs is the " case " or reservoir containing 

 the clear liquid spermaceti. The function of the spermaceti 

 organ is not clearly understood ; it is believed to be connected 

 with the valvular mechanism for closing the blowhole when the 

 animal descends to great depths, where increased pressure 

 necessitates more complicated provision to prevent water 

 getting into the lungs. It cannot be doubted, however, that 

 in any case the spermaceti organ performs a hydrostatic 

 function, and must contribute quite appreciably to the buoyancy 

 of the body. 



When the " case " is tapped a clear colourless oil pours out 

 which in the air solidifies into a white soft wax. Scammon 

 says that as much as 15 barrels of oil have been obtained from 

 the case and Beale states that a large whale not infrequently 

 contains a ton of spermaceti. This substance is used in making 

 candles, in the dressing of fabrics, for medical purposes, and in 

 the preparation of cosmetics. 



One reason for the Sperm Whale being so well known is 

 unquestionably that it is the source of ambergris. This 

 substance originates in the intestine of the whale as a concre- 

 tion ; it is solid, grey or blackish in colour, lighter in weight 

 than water, smelling offensively when fresh from the animal's 

 body, but in time assuming what has been described as a 

 peculiar sweet earthy odour. The horny beaks of the cuttle- 

 fishes which make up the whale's food are frequently embedded 

 in it, and it has been suggested that they form the nucleus for 

 the formation of the substance. Besides being collected from 



