46 CETACEA. 



their number to be 8 on each side. They exist in both sexes of 

 the Sperm Whale ; and although visible externally only in the 

 adult, they may be seen in the young animal upon removing the 

 soft parts from the interior of the jaw. Bennett, Whaling Voyage, 

 ii. 163. 



There is little external appearance, beyond the size of the indi- 

 vidual or the development of its teeth, to distinguish the male 

 from the female. Whalers are inclined to believe that the con- 

 vex or " hatchet-shaped " snout is characteristic of the male Ca- 

 chalots, but I do not think that there is sufficient ground for this 

 conclusion. Bennett, I. c. 167. 



Sperm whales are infested with small lice (Larunda Ceti) and 

 species of barnacles (as Otion Cuvieri], which usually adhere in 

 clusters to the integument around the jaws. See Bennett, I. c. 

 169; Beale, Hist. Sperm W. 



The ordinary food is the cuttle-fish or squid (Sepia), many 

 kinds of which are rejected from the stomach of the whale when 

 the latter is attacked by the boats. It is probable they occasion- 

 ally indulge in other food. In 1835 a School whale rejected from 

 her stomach a bony fish more than a foot long. Some whalers 

 assert that they have seen Cachalots throw up rock-cod, and even 

 sharks. Bennett, I. c. 176. 



The habitat of the Sperm Whale is more peculiarly the central 

 and fathomless water of the ocean, or the vicinity of the most ab- 

 rupt coast. The geographical range of the species (genus?) must 

 be regarded as very extensive, since no part of the aqueous globe, 

 excepting the Polar seas, would appear to be altogether inimical 

 to then' habits or free from their visits. It is however in the 

 warmer seas, within or upon the verge of the tropics, that the 

 Cachalot is sought with the greatest success, as in those corre- 

 sponding to the intertropical coasts of Africa, America, Asia and 

 New Holland, or surrounding* the Indian and Polynesian islands, 

 but more especially and uniformly in the "line of currents" 

 which extend from the equator to almost the seventh degree of 

 north and south latitude, both in the western and eastern hemi- 

 spheres. Bennett, I. c. 182, with map, showing where they 

 occurred during his voyage. They were observed in the Antarctic 

 Seas as high as lat. 71 50'. Ross, Antarctic Voyage, i. 169, 19/. 

 Capt. Chase states, They couple in a horizontal position and 

 not upon the side ; nor does the female remain supine, but being 

 close to the surface of the water they occasionally turn, so as al- 

 ternately to bring the top of the head above the water, evidently 

 for the purpose of breathing. The Right Whale breeds at par- 

 ticular seasons, but the Sperm Whale at any season of the year. 

 He has never seen more than a single young one at a time about 

 the old female. Has seen a bucketful of thick rich milk dis- 



