48 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Goodness of ambergris depends on its age. 



fice of the anus, and find the ambergris some- 

 times in one, sometimes in different lumps, of 

 generally from six to twelve and more inches in 

 diameter, and from one pound to twenty or 

 thirty pounds in weight. 



All ambergris, when taken out of whales, has 

 very nearly the same smell as the liquid ex- 

 crement of the animal, as well as the same black- 

 ish colour : and it is a matter of fact, that after 

 being taken out and kept in the air, all ambergris 

 grows not only . harder and whiter, but also 

 loses, by degrees, its smell, and assumes such an 

 agreeable one, as that in general has which is 

 found swimming upon the sea; therefore the 

 goodness of ambergris seems much to depend 

 upon its age; and the only reason why amber- 

 gris found floating on the sea is of better qua- 

 lity, is its greater age and longer exposure to the 

 air. It is more frequently found in males than 

 females ; the pieces in the latter being generally 

 smaller, and the quality inferior. 



The cuttle-fish is the constant and natural food 

 of the cachalot. Of this the fishers are so well 

 persuaded, that whenever they discover any re- 

 cent relics of it swimming on the sea, they con- 

 clude that a whale of this kind is, or has been, 

 in that part. Another circumstance which cor- 

 roborates the fact isj that the cachalot, on being 

 hooked, generally vomits up some remains of the 

 sepia. Hence it is easy to account for the many 

 beaks, or pieces of beaks, o,f the sepia found in 



