434 THE BLACK-FISH. 







perceived by this creature throws it into a state of excited trepidation, during which time it 

 performs several curious antics, and is said by the sailors to be "gallied." When uneasy, it 

 has a strange habit of slowly sweeping its tail from side to side upon the surface of the water, 

 as if feeling for the object that excited its terror. 



When thoroughly frightened, and especially when roused to energetic action by the pain- 

 ful sting of the harpoon, the Cachalot darts along the surface of the water at an astonishing 

 rate, its speed being often from ten to twelve miles per hour. As it proceeds in its rapid 

 course, the alternate upward and downward strokes of the tail cause its head to sink and 

 emerge alternately, producing that mode of swimming which is technically termed "head- 

 out." As the lower part of the head is compressed into a kind of cut-water shape, there is 

 less resistance offered to the water than if the creature swam entirely below the surface, as is 

 its wont when undisturbed. It is conjectured that the enormous amount of oil and spermaceti 

 which exists in the head of the Cachalot may be intended for the purpose of lightening the 

 head, and enabling it to lie more easily upon the surface. 



The "spoutings" of the Spermaceti Whale are very peculiar, and can be recognized at a 

 distance of several miles. It generally lies still while spouting, but sometimes proceeds gently 

 along the surface. Firstly the "hump " becomes perceptible as the animal rises, and at some 

 forty or fifty feet distance the snout begins to emerge. Prom the extremity of the snout is 

 ejected a continuous stream of water and vapor, which lasts for about three seconds, and is 

 thrown forward at an angle of forty -five degrees. 



The intervals of time between the "spoutings" are as regular as clockwork, and their 

 number is always the same in the same individual. The snout sinks under water as each 

 spouting is finished, and emerges for the next respiration. Sometimes a Cachalot is alarmed 

 before "the spoutings are out," and dives below the surface. In such a case, the animal soon 

 re-appears in another spot, and completes the number of the respirations. The interval of 

 time between the spoutings is ten seconds in the " old bulls," and as the animal makes between 

 sixty and seventy of these curious respirations, the time which is consumed in oxygenizing the 

 blood is ten or eleven minutes. 



Having completed this business, the creature then lowers its head into the water, flings its 

 tail in the air, and disappears into the far depths of the ocean, where it remains about an hour 

 and ten minutes. The number and force of these "spoutings," together with the time which 

 is consumed by respiration, and the period of the stay beneath the surface of the water, are 

 extremely varied, according to the age, sex, and size of the individual. 



The Spermaceti Whale does not seem to choose any particular portion of the year for the 

 production of its young, but is found at all seasons in charge of its offspring. Moreover, 

 young Whales, or "cubs," are found of all sizes and ages, simultaneously roaming the seas, 

 either in company with their parents or turned loose upon the world to shift for themselves. 

 There is but a single cub at a birth. The milk of the animal is exceedingly rich and thick, 

 as indeed is the case with the milk of all Whales. 



This animal is very widely spread over the world, as it is found in almost every portion of 

 the aqueous portions of the globe with the exception of the Polar Seas. Several of these 

 creatures have been discovered off our own coasts, and a few have been stranded on the beach. 



Sperm Whales are embraced under the family Catodontidce. The head is enormously 

 large, forming quite one-third of the bulk of the animal, and is curiously square and box-like 

 in the snout. The latter contains the spermaceti, which is dipped out of the top of the head or 

 snout when the upper surface is removed. The lower jaw is armed with numerous teeth, which 

 fit into depressions in the upper. The pectoral limbs are small, and the dorsal fin is present. 

 The blow-holes are situated nearer the extremity of the snout than those of the Right Whales. 



The Sperm Whales are confined to tropical waters. 



Tire BLACK-FISH has been separated from the genus Catodon, and placed in the genus 

 Physeter, together with one or two other Whales, because, although they possess the huge 

 truncated head and heavily armed lower jaw of the Cachalots, the spout-holes are removed 

 from the extremity of the snout and placed upon the middle of the top of the head. These 



