PHYSETERID^ 29 



the surface, the first portion of the animal seen is the region of 

 the hump, then it raises its head and respires slowly for about 

 three seconds, sending forth diagonally a volume of whitish 

 vapor like an escape of steam; this is called the 'spout,' which, 

 in ordinary weather, may be seen from the masthead three to 

 five miles. In respiring at leisure, the animal sometimes makes 

 no headway through the water; at other times it moves slowly 

 along at about the rate of two or three miles an hour ; or if 'mak- 

 ing a passage' frorh one feeding ground to another, it may accele- 

 rate its velocity. When in progressive motion (after 'blow- 

 ing), hardly an instant is required for inspiration, when the an- 

 imal dips its head a little and momentarily disappears, then it 

 rises again tO' blow, as before, each respiration made with great 

 regularity. The number of spoutings made when in a state of 

 quietude depends on the size of the animal ; vai-ying in the adult 

 female and in the young of both sexes from the largest and old- 

 est males. The same may be said as to the length of time it remains 

 upon or beneath the surface of the ocean. With the largest 

 bulls the time occupied in performing one expiration and one in- 

 spiration is ten to twelve seconds, and the animal will generally 

 blow from sixty tO' seventy five times at one 'rising', remaining 

 upon the surface of the sea about twelve minutes. As soon as 

 his 'spoutings are out' he pitches head foremost downward ; then 

 nearly perpendicular attitude, descends to a great depth, and there 

 "rounding out,' turns his fliukes high in air, and, when gaining a 

 remains from fifty minutes to an hour and a quarter. 



"When a Cachelct becomes alarmed, or is sporting in the 

 ocean, its actions are widely dififerent. If frightened it has the 

 faculty of instantly sinking, (as the sailors say, 'he can let go and 

 go "down in a jiffy'). When merely startled it will frequently 

 assume nearly a perpendicular position, with the greater portion 

 of its head above water, to look and listen; or when lying on the 

 surface, it will sweep around from side to side with its flukes, 

 to ascertain whether any object is within reach. At other times, 

 when at play, it will elevate its flukes high in air, then strike them 



