244 THE OCEAN. 



bunch of the neck ; from hence the body is nearly 

 straight to within one-third of its length from the 

 tail, where there is a larger prominence called the 

 hump ; it now rapidly tapers away to the tail : the 

 whalers distinguish this tapering part by the name 

 of "the small," and the broad horizontal tail, as "the 

 flukes." The whole of the upper portion of the 

 square and bluff head is occupied by a cavity, tech- 

 nically termed " the case ;" which is not covered by 

 bone, but by a thick, tendinous, elastic skin, and 

 lined with a beautiful glistening membrane. This 

 cavity is filled with a clear oil, which, after death, 

 cools into the substance well known as spermaceti. 

 Some idea may be formed of the capacity of the case, 

 from the fact that, in a large Whale, it will frequently 

 be found to contain ten large barrels of this valuable 

 product. Immediately beneath the case is placed 

 "the junk," a thick triangular mass of tough elastic 

 substance, which also yields a considerable quantity 

 of spermaceti. The fins are comparatively small, and 

 are situated a little behind the mouth ; they do not 

 appear to be used in giving motion, which is effected 

 by the tail, but in balancing the body, and support- 

 ing the young. 



The general colour of the animal is very dark 

 gre}', nearly black on the upper parts, but more sil- 

 very beneath. Old males usually have a large spot 

 of pale grey on the front of the head, when they are 

 said to be grey-headed. The motions of these enor- 

 mous creatures are exceedingly curious: when mov- 

 ing perfectly at leisure, the Whale swims slowly 

 along, just below the surface of the water, effecting 



