93 NATURAL HISTORY. 



swimming off to a distance, and then rushing at the boat 

 with its head, thereby knocking it to pieces. One of these 

 whales actually sank a ship by three or four blows from its 

 head. 



PIIYSETMI. (Gr. QvcTjTqp, a blow-pipe, or bellows.) 



Macrocephalus (Gr. Ma/cpof, large ; /ce^a/l??, a head), the Cachalot, or 

 Spermaceti Wliale. 



Spermaceti is obtained from the head of the Cachalot, and 

 it is this substance that causes the immense size of the head. 

 When the whale is killed, a hole is made in the upper part 

 of the head, and the spermaceti is baled out with buckets. 

 When just procured it is almost fluid, but is rendered solid 

 and transparent by being first drained of its oil, then boiled 

 in water, and lastly set to cool in wide pans, where it soon 

 assumes the white flaky appearance so well known in this 

 country. The layer of blubber is thin, but yields a fine and 

 valuable oil. 



