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CHAPTER «Xx LIV. 
THE SPERM-WHALE. 
THESE creatures are among the largest of the cetacea, being 
characterised particularly by the remarkable size of the teeth 
of the lower jaw. Their size often reaches eighty feet, of which 
the head occupies thirty. Although these cetacea are so large, 
they are not so well known as many of the smaller members 
of the animal kingdom, for it is yet an undecided point whether 
there be ten different species, or only one. 
The sperm-whale is also known by the name of Cachalot. It 
is scientifically termed Physeter macrocephalus. Its habitat is 
widely extended, for the sperm-whale is an inhabitant of almost 
every sea. Its colour is bluish-black, darker upon the back. The 
upper jaw is destitute of teeth, or has only the rudiments covered 
by the gums. The lower jaw is narrower and three feet shorter 
than the upper, looking much out of proportion. We shall 
notice presently the formidable teeth with which it is furnished. 
The cachalot has only one spiracle. Its eyes are prominent. Its 
dorsal fin is reduced to a mere scaly protuberance, and its tail 
is bi-lobial. The body is thick, heavy, and ungraceful; in its 
ungainly appearance there is more resemblance to a gigantic 
bull-head, than any other fish. The blunt-headed cachalot swims 
chiefly on the surface of the water, showing his back and the 
fleshy hump about the spiracle. He thus gives vent to the 
water drawn into the nostril while feeding, just as a Dutch 
peasant comes into the sun to smoke his pipe! The movements 
of the cachalot are not rapid, and in shallow seas he may some- 
times be seen to raise the whole of the upper part of his body 
upright out of the water. When these animals journey, the 
largest and strongest takes the lead, and keeps at the head 
of the phalanx. It is his duty also to give the signal for attack. 
In the year 1741, an enormous sperm-whale was stranded at 
