THE WHALES. 25 



applies to the male. The females seldom remain 

 submerged for more than twenty minutes, and they 

 occupy about four minutes in having their spoutings 

 out ; so that, in their case, one-fifth of their time is 

 taken up by respiration. 



Even we ourselves in, a small way, can imitate the 

 whale in their mode of respiration, and produce a 

 similar result. 



Any one who wishes to hold his breath for a con- 

 siderable time, can do so by preparing himself much 

 as the whales do. Let him first expel, as far as he 

 can, every particle of air from the lungs, and then 

 take as deep an inspiration as possible. Let this be 

 repeated for some twenty times, and the blood will be 

 so completely oxygenated that another respiration is 

 not needed for some little time. I have often been 

 thus enabled to hold my breath for a minute and a 

 half, and have found it a very useful accomplishment 

 in diving matches, where a second more or less means 

 winning or losing them. 



Another important aid to respiration is found in 

 the substance from which the spermaceti whale derives 

 its name. The skull is comparatively small, the 

 greater part of the enormous head being composed of 

 a very light oily substance, enclosed in a thin mem- 

 braneous case. It is this oil which, when purified by 

 pressure, and treatment with successive washings in 

 alkaline solutions, crystallizes into the well-known 

 spermaceti. 



The object of this substance is evident enough 

 when we consider the habits of the animal. On 

 account of its lightness, it very much increases the 



