FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



a third of this; head huge, deep and square, with large, oil- 

 filled reservoir overlying rostrum and cranium; spiracle or 

 blow-hole single, not paired as in the baleen Whales, external 

 opening somewhat S-shaped; dorsal fin absent; pectoral fin 



Fig. 129. Sperm Whale 



broad and short; teeth in lower jaws only, 22 to 24 on each 

 side; throat large, capable of swallowing large masses; color 

 blackish above, lighter below; spout slow and prolonged, 

 diagonally forward in direction; social in habit, congregating 

 in schools of fifteen or more (in times of former abundance in 

 schools of hundreds). Food; squid, octopus, and some species 

 of fish. 



Geographical Distribution. — Formerly found in nearly all 

 seas from 56° north latitude to 50° south, now scarce over 

 much of this range. 



Ambergris comes from Sperm Whales and is an intestinal 

 secretion, taken either from the dead animal or found float- 

 ing or cast up on the beach. It varies in color from yellowish 

 to dark brownish, is rather firm and hard after exposure to the 

 air, and is often confused with various other oily or greasy 

 substances such as mineral waxes or waste products from 

 steamers. Ambergris is used as a base for perfumes and is 

 quite valuable. It is a difficult substance for the layman to 

 identify or analyze and a sample of the suspected substance 

 should be sent to a chemical laboratory before spending any 

 of the anticipated receipts from a sale of the find! 



Family Kogiidae. Pigmy Sperm Whales 



"Facial depression moderately developed, . . . brain rela- 

 tively large, . . . zygoma incomplete; ..." (Miller) 



564 



