THE SPERM-WHALE 131 



a double upright jet as in the Whalebone Whales ; this spout is com- 

 posed of steam or vapour from the exhaled breath. A large bull Whale 

 will remain below water an hour without rising to breathe, but when 

 up he will "blow" many times in succession, at intervals of ten 

 seconds or so, before diving again. Smaller specimens do not stay 

 below so long. 



When travelling quietly, the Sperm-Whale only shows the top of 

 its head and back above water, but when going at speed, it travels 

 "head out," as the Whalers say, its huge head appearing at each 

 vigorous stroke of the tail-flukes, and then disappearing again. In 

 spite of its unwieldy shape and huge size, it can spring clear of the 

 water like a Salmon, descending with a tremendous splash. Its food 

 consists of Cuttle-fish or Octopuses, often of enormous size ; in fact, 

 the earliest proof of the existence of gigantic species of this class of 

 animals was afforded by the vomiting of huge fragments of their 

 tentacles by Sperm-Whales when wounded and dying. It will also 

 feed on true fish, though it is a puzzle how so clumsy a creature 

 catches these ; it is thought that the white lining of its mouth, 

 when displayed below water, acts as an attraction to smaller marine 

 creatures. 



The baby Cachalot is about five yards long; usually there is but 

 a single one, as is generally the case with the Cetacea, but twins are 

 occasionally produced. It is active at once, and is suckled by the 

 cow when lying on her side, taking the teat in the corner of its mouth. 

 It may be born at any time of the year. Unlike some of the Whale- 

 bone Whales, the cow Cachalot shows but little maternal devotion, 

 and will often desert her young when hunted. Generally speaking, 

 indeed, this huge animal is harmless and timid, but there are many 

 exceptions, and no creature is so terrible in its fury as the fighting 

 Cachalot. Such an animal will not only crush a boat with powerful 

 blows of its tail, but will ram it with its head, or even bite it in two, 

 to accomplish which feat it rolls over on its back, so as to bring the 

 formidably-armed under-jaw uppermost. Savage bulls will even charge 

 a ship, and as several have actually been sunk by such animals, their 



