The Cachalot.] OF ORKNEY. l6l 



neys, nay, and sometimes caught. One about fifty feet long 

 was caught in Hoy Sound some years ago, from which was 

 extracted a vast quantity of spermaceti, as also another which 

 drove ashore in Hoy. However, our people do not seem to 

 understand the method of curing the spermaceti properly, 

 as that got from the former was very much complained of by 

 the merchant who bought it. The spermaceti is entirely con- 

 tained in the vast head of the animal, and is got at by open- 

 ing the skull and taking it out with buckets. It likewise af- 

 forded a vast quantity of oil. All the kind seem to be very 

 mischievous. 



Species 2. The Round-headed Cachalot. 



Balaena minor in inferiore maxilla tantum dentata sine spina aut pinna in dorso, 

 Sib. Phal. 24. Raii Syn. Pise, ]5. Physeter Catodon, Lin. Sys. 107. 

 Brit. Zool. 47. 



SIR ROBERT SIBBALD tells us of a hundred and two of 

 different sizes being thrown ashore in the harbour of Kerston 

 in Orkney (now called the harbour of Stromness). " The 

 " largest of these/' says he, " was twenty and four feet long, 

 " some eighteen, others fifteen, and the smallest twelve/' 

 His description is as follows : 



" The head was round ; the opening of the mouth small ; 

 " toothed only in the lower jaw, and having in the upper 

 " a number of holes, equalling, and for receiving the teeth of 



x 



