WHALES. 



Ill 



Allied to this is the Little Australian Whale (Neobalaena 

 marginata), which occurs only in the ocean south of New Zealand 

 and Australia, and which grows only about 16 ft. long. 



The most important of all these animals from a commercial 

 point of view is the Sperm Whale, or Cachalot, an animal 60 ft. 

 to 70 ft. in length nearly one-third of it head which used to 

 be common in these southern seas, though mainly an inhabitant 

 of warmer regions. The specific name Physeter macrocephalus 

 refers to its gigantic head. The mouth is ventral in position, and 

 the lower jaw is furnished with a great row of teeth, and according 

 to Frank Bullen, who gives a picture of it, the animal turns over 

 on its back like a shark when it is going to bite. I cannot vouch 

 for the accuracv of this statement. 



Fia. 6. SPERM WHALE, OB CACHALOT. 



These animals are still fairly common, though they are per- 

 sistently and unremittingly pursued for their destruction. Bullen, 

 writing of Foveaux Strait in the " nineties," says, " Only three 

 days elapsed after our arrival when whales were seen. For the 

 first time I realized how numerous these gigantic denizens of the 

 sea really are. As far as the eye could reach, extending all round 

 one-half of the horizon, the sea appeared to be alive with spouts 

 all sperm whales, x all bulls of great size. The value of this in- 

 credible school must have been incalculable. Subsequent experience 

 satisfied me that such a sight was by no means uncommon here 

 in fact, ' lone whales ' or small ' pods ' were quite the exception." 



