530 THE SPERMACETI WHALE. 
The whalers appear to regard this animal with as much detestation as do the 
European fishermen, for the Greenland Whale has no love for the Rorqual, and seems to 
avoid the localities where this marine giant takes up its residence. It does not frequent 
the more icy seas, but prefers the clear waters. The spoutings of the Rorqual are very 
impetuous, as indeed are all its actions, and while engaged in respiration it shoots along 
the surface of the water at a velocity of four or five miles an hour instead of lying still 
during that process as is the custom with the Greenland Whale. The colour of this 
species is a dark-erey, tinged with blue. 
The name Rorqual is derived from the Norwegian word, which signifies a “ Whale 
with folds,” in allusion to the deep longitudinal folds which le along the under jaw and 
a considerable portion of the lower parts of the animal. The term Boodps is from the 
Greek, and signifies “ox-eyed,” in allusion to the small rounded ox-like eyes of the 
Rorqual. 
The Rorqual can be distinguished while in the water from the Mysticetus by the 
comparatively longer and more slender body and more cylindrical form, and by the fact 
of its possessing a dorsal fin. Its actions too are so peculiar as to mark it out to an 
experienced eye. 
THE animals which form the next little group of Cetacea are remarkable for their 
the interior of the jaw than the conical depressions already mentioned, but in some 
instances are found at the bottom of these cavities. The number of the teeth of the 
lower jaw is very variable, but the average in adult specimens is about fifty-two. The teeth 
are heavy, strong, and when the animal is young are rather sharply pointed, but become 
extremely blunt when worn by the attrition of a long course of service. In Europe the 
teeth of the CACHALOT, or SPERMACETI WHALE, are of no great value, being considered 
merely as marine curiosities, and often carved with rude engravings representing the 
chase of the animal from which they were taken, together with a very precise account of 
the latitude and longitude, and a tolerably accurate view of the vessel. In the South Sea 
Islands, however, these teeth are articles of the highest value, being thought worthy of 
dedication to the idol deities, or at least placed as rare ornaments in the king’s house. 
So great is the conventional value of these teeth, that several wars have arisen from the 
possession of a Whale’s tooth by an inferior and unfortunate chief who had discovered 
the rarity and meant to keep it. 
The partly-hidden teeth of the upper jaw are about three inches in length, but they 
hardly project more than half an inch through the soft parts in which they are imbedded. 
In preparing the skull of the Spermaceti Whale these teeth are apt to fall out together 
with the softer parts, as their attachment to the jawbone is very slight. Eight of these 
teeth have been found on each side of the jaw, 
The CAcHALOT is one of the largest of the Whales, an adult male, or “old bull,” as it is 
called by the whalers, measuring from seventy to eighty feet in length, and thirty feet in , 
circumference. The head is enormously long, being almost equal to one-third of the, 
total length. The term Macrocephalus is derived from two Greek words, signifying “long- 
headed,” and has been given to the animal in reference to this peculiarity of structure. 
Upon the back there is a rather large hump, which rises abruptly in front and tapers 
gradually towards the tail. The colour of the Cachalot is a blackish-grey, somewhat 
tinged with green upon the upper portions of the body. Round the eyes and on the 
abdomen it is of a greyish-white. 
This species is chiefly notable on account of the valuable substances which are 
obtained from its body, including oil and spermaceti. The oil is obtained from the 
blubber, which is not very thick in this animal, being only fourteen inches in depth on 
it is found to possess a short row of them on each side, which are mostly placed nearer 
