1?4 ZOOLOGY. 



vapour. It ascends obliquely upwards and forward; 

 seldom rises to a greater height than six or eight feet ; 

 remains suspended in the air but a short time ; and is 

 sent forth from the spiracle by one continued effort, 

 accompanied by a rushing sound, resembling that of a 

 moderate surf upon a smooth beach ; the superior ex- 

 tremity of the snout being raised high above the level 

 of the sea at each explosive effort. It is neither 

 abruptly terminated, nor succeeded by any perceptible 

 sound of inspiration, or " drawback," as is the case 

 in the spouting of many of the less valued kinds of 

 cetacea ; in fact, its sound is, on the whole, so peculiar, 

 that the practised ear of the whaler can detect by it the 

 close vicinity of the Cachalot, although the darkness of 

 night should conceal the animal from his view. During 

 a close encounter with this whale, the latter often 

 spouts into the boats and amongst the crew, when the 

 exhaled fluid has been observed to be foetid in odour, 

 and to produce an acrid effect upon the skin. 



When about to descend, the Cachalot assumes a 

 vertical posture, raising its flukes perpendicularly in 

 the air, an evolution which is performed leisurely, and 

 which is regarded by whalers as a principal point for 

 distinguishing this from most other kinds of cetacea. 

 It is one, however, which is not invariably exhibited ; 

 for, when desirous of a sudden and temporary de- 

 scent, the whale will occasionally sink in the horizontal 

 position, or, as it is technically expressed, fe settle 

 down/' 



A necessity for respiring atmospheric air does not 

 permit the Sperm Whale to continue below the surface 

 of the water beyond a limited period: one hour is 

 perhaps the average time for an individual of the largest 

 size. On three occasions, when large and solitary 



