412 ON THE 



Thus the common Whale, taken in all its parts, 

 from the quantity of Whalebone and Oil which 

 it furnishes, forms in successful voyages, one of 

 the most profitable sources of commerce, which 

 modern times have discovered. 



It is worthy of observation, that ihe two largest 

 animals in existence, the Whale, and the Klephant, 

 should only be formidable, when called upon to 

 defend themselves against their enemies ; and 

 that in general, they timidly fly from their pursu- 

 ers, until urged to resistance by the closeness of 

 the attack. 



The Physeler, Cachalot, or Sperma Ceti Whale, 

 though somewhat less than the common Whale, 

 is also of a very large size; and is to be found 

 not only in the North Polar latitudes, but also in 

 the South Seas, and near the coasts of the Hrasils 

 and of New South Wales. There are four species, 

 but the Physeter Macrocephaius is the most con- 

 siderable. This animal, contrary to the former, 

 has an extensive range of conical teeth in the 

 lower jaws, which lit into corresponding sockets, 

 in the upper one; containing, as it is supposed by 

 some, small, concealed teeth under the surface. It 

 has also, different from the former, an enormous 

 gullet, by which two circumstances, it is enabled 

 to seize and swallow very large fish ; thus bestow- 

 ing on it, a much more ferocious character than 

 the common Whale. From its head is extracted, 

 that very useful substance, so well known by the 



