THE SPERM WHALE. 
79 
It is the opinion of many experienced and observing whalemen — with whom 
we concur — that the Sperm Whale has a higher organization than any other species 
of Cetacea. Its massive form is composed of bone, flesh, and sinew, which has a 
finer texture than that of the rorqual or the mysticetus. The latter subsists on 
minute Crustacea and small fishes, skimmed as it were from the surface of the seas 
and inland waters. The mouth of the Cachalot is armed with teeth of ivory, finely 
set, for the purpose of prehension, and the animal is endowed with the power of 
descending to the remote caverns of the ocean in search of its prey, and remaining 
there a length of time unequaled by any of its congeners. The principal food of 
the Sperm Whale is familiarly named by the whalers "squid;" which includes 
one or more species of cuttle-fishes (cephalopods). The animal's manner of 
pursuing its prey is not definitely known ; but several high authorities main- 
tain, that after descending to the desired depth it drops its lower jaw nearly to 
a right angle with the body, thereby exhibiting its polished white teeth, which 
attract within its reach the swimming food, while the creature moves along through 
the ocean's depths ; the moment its prey comes in contact with the expanded jaw, 
under like circumstances to those of the Essex. 
In 1807, the ship Union, of Nantucket, was 
wrecked "by striking," says the narrator, "on a 
Sperm "Whale." It was in the night, and the 
, question is, whether the ship struck the animal 
accidentally, or whether the whale made an 
attack ? Other disasters to vessels might be 
cited, which were occasioned by the attack of, 
or by coming in collision with, the colossal 
Cachalot. The ferocity of many old male Sperm 
Whales has been fully demonstrated by their 
attacks on boats, and to distinguish them from 
other whales they are often called "eating 
whales." According to the author of the Arctic 
Whalemen, an instance occurred with the boats 
of the ship Citizen, upon the Atlantic Ocean, in 
the year 1851, where, after the whale had been 
struck, lanced, and while spouting blood, he made 
an attack and demolished one boat, after which 
he gave chase to another ; but the fifth boat, 
having been dispatched from the ship to the res- 
cue, came up just in time to divert the animal's 
attention, when he turned upon it. By the dex- 
terous management of the captain, who had come 
in this relief boat, the whale was foiled in his 
attempt to destroy it. In the midst of the fray, 
the bleeding animal caught sight of the ship, 
which was approaching the boats under flowing 
sails. Instantly the enraged animal made for 
the vessel; while those on board, being advised 
of the fact, put the craft before the wind to 
avoid him. On the whale came ; but, owing to 
the increased speed of the skip, he shot past 
the stern a few feet, and soon after went into 
his "flurry," and "turned up," when he was 
taken to the vessel, "cut in," and "tried out," 
yielding seventy -five barrels of oil. Another 
instance, somewhat similar, occurred to the boats 
of the bark Athalia. In this case, however, the 
whale, after staving a boat, not being content 
with the manner in which he destroyed it, 
went deliberately at the remains and chewed 
them into fine pieces. These instances are 
only mentioned as among scores of other simi- 
lar cases which might be given. And we have 
no doubt but that many vessels which have 
sailed from port, and never been heard of after, 
have suffered wreck through Cachalots. 
