ACTIVITY OF THE SPERMACETI WHALE. 533 



connoisseurs in Whale's flesh assert that there are three qualities of meat in every Whale, 

 the best resembling mutton, the second quality imitating pork, and the third resembling 

 beef. Captain Scott, R. N., an eye-witness of this animated scene, and to whom I am 

 indebted for the information, avers that there is really some semblance of these various 

 meats, and that the " pork," when salted and barrelled, might be readily taken for the 

 flesh of the veritable hog. 



The same gentleman tells me that the leaping powers of the Cachalot are not in the 

 least exaggerated, for that he has seen one of these animals spring to such a height out 

 of the water, that the horizon could be seen under it, although the spectators were 

 standing on the deck of a man-of-war. The Cachalot was about three miles from the 

 ship at the time when it made its spring. 



The Spermaceti Whale, when it is in the open seas, lives chiefly on the " squids," or 

 cuttle-fish, which swarm in that ocean, and when it approaches land, feeds on various 

 fish. It seems, however, to dislike the propinquity of the shore, and is very seldom 

 taken in " soundings." It is a gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, but in 

 large herds, technically called "schools," and consisting of several hundred in number. 

 The " schools " are generally divided into two bands, the one consisting of young 

 males and the other of females. Each band of females is under the command of sev- 

 eral large males, who exercise the strictest discipline over their harems, and will not 

 permit any intruder to join their society. From their office, these leaders are called 

 the schoolmasters. 



At distant intervals a large overgrown Cachalot is seen roaming the ocean, ap- 

 parently unconnected with any school. These solitary animals are, however, the 

 " schoolmasters," which have laid down their authority for a short space of time, and 

 are engaged in search of food. These animals generally fall easy victims to the har- 

 pooner, as they are very reckless in their conduct, and will permit a boat to approach 

 them without much difficulty. Sometimes when struck they lie still and supine as if 

 they did not feel the keen edge of the harpoon, and so afford time to the whalers to use 

 their deadly lances at once instead of dragging them for miles over the waves. 



Sometimes, however, a " large Whale " will become belligerent, and is then a most 

 fearful antagonist, using its tail and its huge jaws with equal effect. One of these 

 animals has been known to drive its lower jaw entirely through the plankings of a 

 stout whaling boat, and another well-known individual destroyed nine boats in rapid 

 succession. This formidable animal was at last killed, and in its carcass were found a 

 whole armory of harpoons and spears belonging to different ships. Not only boats, 

 but even ships have been sunk by the attacks of an infuriated " old bull " Cachalot. 



An American ship, the Essex, was thus destroyed by the vengeful fury of a Cachalot, 

 which accidentally struck itself against the keel. The irritated animal, evidently 

 thinking that the ship was a rival Whale, retired to a short distance and then charged 

 full at the vessel, striking it on one side of the bows, and crushing beams and planks 

 like straws. There were at the time only a few men on board, the remainder of the 

 crew being in the boats engaged in chasing the Whales ; and when the poor men re- 

 turned to their ship, they found her fast sinking, and only reached her in time to 

 secure a scanty stock of provision and water. Husbanding these precious supplies 

 to the utmost, they made for the coast of Peru, but all perished excepting three, who 

 were almost miraculously rescued as they lay senseless in their neglected boat, which 

 was drifting at large in the ocean, unguided by human hands. 



Like the Greenland Whale, the Cachalot is an affectionate animal, and though con- 

 stitutionally timid to a degree, is yet possessed of sufficient moral courage to come to 

 the rescue of its wounded friends. If the harpooner strikes one female of the " school," 

 her companions will not attempt to make their escape, but will swim anxiously round 

 their suffering companion and remain in her vicinity until she is killed. Taking ad- 

 vantage of this trait of character, the whalers have often contrived, by sending a num- 

 ber of boats simultaneously, to secure almost every member of the " school." The 

 young males, however, are far more selfish, and when one of them is struck, the others 

 make off as fast as they can swim, leaving their wounded companion to shift for him- 

 self as he best can. 



