23-t THE OCEAN. 



of his mouth, and particularly the teeth, being of a 

 glistening white hue, the squid are attracted to visit 

 it, and when a sufficient number are mthin, the 

 mouth is supposed to be closed. That the prey is 

 obtained in some other way than by pursuit is 

 proved by the fact, that Whales are often found 

 blind, and others with the lower jaw distorted, which 

 yet are in as good condition as others. These dis- 

 tortions arise from battles between old "bull whales:" 

 they rush upon each other with great fury, th^ir 

 mouths wide open, each endeavouring to seize liis 

 adversary by the lower jaw. In this manner they 

 often become locked together by the jaws, and then 

 struggling with all their gigantic power, the contest 

 frequently terminates in the dislocation or fracture of 

 the jaw. The teeth are not used for chewing, tlio 

 prey being swallowed entire. 



In the chase and capture of this immense creature, 

 as might be expected from the peculiarities of its 

 habits, there are several circumstances that distin- 

 guish it fj'om the Greenland whale-fishery, while, 

 at the same time, there is a general resemblance. 

 Ships of three or four hundred tons are selected 

 for the voyage, strongly built, manned with a crew 

 of about thirty hands, and provisioned for four years. 

 A watch is stationed aloft immediately on leaving 

 the Channel, although the Sperm Whale is rarely 

 seen in the Atlantic north of the equator. The look- 

 out on the mast-head is never interrupted during the 

 voyage, or until the cargo is completed, the men on 

 this duty being relieved in succession. On a Sperm 

 Whale being perceived, the intelligence is communi- 



