38 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



It feeds principally upon cuttles, sometimes of 

 monstrous size, and possibly it searches for these 

 terrible decapods in the dim recesses of the ocean, 

 dragging them out after a fashion no other creature 

 could manage to do unscathed. 



Sperms appear to have some means of inter- 

 communication, for, when swimming in herds or 

 schools, often two or three hundred strong, they 

 rise, sink, and even spout, in unison, as if at the 

 word of command from the bulls or leaders. 



There can be no greater contrast to the sperm 

 than the " right " whale. In size slightly inferior 

 to the sperm, its means of propulsion are the 

 same, and so are a few other anatomical details, 

 but the head is quite different, being proportionate 

 to its length, and modelled with fine lines like a 

 clipper. 



The "right" whale of the northern hemisphere is 

 supposed never to cross the Equator, and is 

 different from the Antarctic "right'' whale;i while 

 the sperm whale seldom comes very far north of 

 the Line. 



The construction of the right whale's mouth is 

 its characteristic feature. It is fitted with a wonder- 



■ The "right " whales of Japanese Arctic waters are called 

 "bovveads," though they are the same as the Greenland 

 whales. 



