SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



disease in the intestines of ttie sperm whale, 

 and, when cast out by the animal, floats on 

 the surface of the water and may be thrown 

 ashore on any beach. There are many curi- 

 ous theories as to its nature, and that by old 

 Josselyn is not the most curious. He says 

 in his " New-Englands Rarities: " " Now you 

 must understand this Whale feeds upon Am- 

 bergreece, as is apparent, finding it in the 

 Whales Maw in great quantity, but altered 

 and exerementitious : I conceive that Amber- 

 greece is no other than a kind of Mushroom 

 growing at the bottom of some Seas; I was 

 once shewed (by a Mariner) a piece of Am- 

 bergreece having a root to it like that of a 

 land Mushroom, which the Whale breaking 

 up, some scape his devouring Paunch, and is 

 afterwards cast upon shore." 



It has been known to form masses weighing 

 over two hundred pounds, and, as it is worth 

 many dollars an ounce for the manufacture 

 of perfumery, one can easily estimate that a 

 fortune awaits the lucky finder of the larger 

 pieces. The tale is told of the finding of a 

 piece at sea by the master of a fishing 

 schooner, who, ignorant of the true value of 

 the substance, had it used for greasing the 



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