306 The American Naturalist. [April, 
in large numbers to a central saccular organ, which occupied 
a large part of the interior of the thicker part of the specimen. 
This might, perhaps, represent the spermaceti case. Natur- 
ally most of the interior parts had decomposed long before it 
was opened,‘ so that we lack details of the interior structure. 
Externally there is but little trace of cuticle. The surface is 
close-grained and somewhat rough, with occasional gray 
patches of what may be remnants of the outer skin, much 
altered by decay. The thick masses contain a slight amount 
of oil, and smell like rancid whale oil, but they sink quickly in 
water, owing to their great density. No muscular tissue was 
present in any of the masses sent, nor were there any spaces 
from which such tissues might have disappeared by decay. 
It is evident that such a dense and thick covering of fibrous 
connective tissue could not have come from any mobile part 
of any animal, but must have served for passive resistance to 
great pressure or concussion. 
The structure of this integument is more like that of the 
upper part of the head of a sperm whale than any other known 
to me, and as the obvious use is the same, it is most probable 
that the whole mass represents the upper part of the head of 
such a whale, detached from the skull and jaw. It is evident, 
however, from the figures, that the shape is decidedly unlike 
that of the head of an ordinary sperm whale,’ for the latter is 
oblong, truncated and rather narrow in front, “like the prow 
of a vessel,” with an angle at the upper front end, near which 
the single blow-hole is situated. No blow-hole has been dis- 
covered in the mass cast ashore. There is a depression, shown 
in the side-view, near the large end, that I at one time thought 
*It should be stated that after visiting the specimen, two days after it came 
ashore, Dr. Webb did not again see it for several weeks, owing to very stormy 
weather and its distance from St. Augustine. Nor did anyone suppose, at that 
time, that its tissues could be preserved or utilized for study, owing to its appar- 
ently advanced decomposition. The outer skin rapidly decayed, but the fibrous 
mass seems very durable. 
5The dimensions of the head of a large sperm whale, 84 feet long, are given 
as follows: Length, about 25 feet; depth, 8 to9 feet; breadth, 5 to 6 feet. The 
blow-hole is like a slit, about a foot long, and has a sigmoid curve. It is on the 
left side, close to the tip of the nose. The spermaceti case occupies a large space 
within the right side of the head. It is supported by strong fibrous tendons. 
