Whales as the Whalers Knew Them 193 



a combat of the kind as described to the editor] 

 was one of awful display. The two monsters, 

 being among the largest of their species, advanced 

 upon each other with their jaws, which measured 

 sixteen feet in length, widely extended, exhibit- 

 ing huge rows of great teeth, and presenting the 

 most ferocious appearance. They cleaved much 

 of the flesh from each other's heads and left 

 deep marks of their teeth in other parts. In 

 the affray one of them had his jaw slewed around 

 and many of his teeth stove out, while the jaw 

 of the other was broken off so that it hung to 

 the head only by the flesh. It is said that these 

 battles are not uncommon; and the conqueror 

 always joins the drove of females and continues 

 the cruise." 



It is a curious fact that when whales with 

 crooked jaws were killed by the whalers they 

 were found to be as well nourished usually as 

 the uncrippled whales; though Bullen notes 

 three such whales, killed during his cruise, that 

 were all "dry skins." How they could secure 

 their food when the lower jaw for a part of its 

 length could not be closed against the upper 



