274 Lloyd's natural history. 



twenty-five pairs of stout, conical, recurved, and pointed lower 

 teeth, which are of large size and have no enamel. Back-fin 

 rudimentary. 



The genus is represented only by the under-mentioned 

 species, which has been greatly reduced in number owing 

 to incessant pursuit on account of the spermaceti yielded by 

 the cavity in the skull, and the high value of the oil obtained 

 from the blubber. 



THE SPERM-WHALE. PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS. 



Physeter macrocephalus^ Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 

 107 (1766); Bell, British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 415 

 (1874) ; vSouthwell, British Seals and Whales, p. 85 

 (1881); Flower, List Cetacea Brit. Mus. p. 8 (1885). 



Catodon macrocephalus^ Lacepbde, Hist. Nat. des Cetaces, 

 Tabl. des Ordres, p. x (1804); Gray, Cat. Seals and 

 Whales Brit. Mus. p. 202 (1866). 



Characters.— Size very large (far exceeding that of any other 

 member of the sub-order) ; general colour black above, and 

 grey on the under-parts, without any clear line of demarcation 

 between the two. Total length of adult male from 55 to 60 

 feet. The female very much smaller. 



Distribution. — Formerly abundant in almost all the warmer 

 seas of the globe, and associating in large "schools," the Sperm- 

 Whale, or Cachalot, is but an accidental visitor to our shores, 

 such specimens as have been recorded from the British seas 

 being either stragglers, or those which have died in the southern 

 oceans and been carried northwards and eastwards by the 

 Gulf-Stream. None have been recorded of late years, doubt- 

 less owin^ to the comparative rarity of the species at the 

 present day. 



Of the specimens recorded from the English coasts, ^ve may 

 notice the following. So far back as the year 1626, a Sperm 



