BLUNT-HEADED CACHALOT. 499 



*able, and somewhat abrupt or cut off behind. 

 The tongue is of the shape of the lower jaw, clay- 

 coloured externally, and of a dull red within. 

 The throat is but small in proportion to the ani« 

 mal. The body is cylindrical beyond the pecto- 

 ral fins, growing narrower towards the tail. The 

 colour of the whole animal is black, but when ad- 

 vanced in age grows whitish beneath. It swim$? 

 swiftly, and is said to be a violent enemy to the 

 Squalus Car charms or White Shark, which is some- 

 times driven ashore in its endeavours to escape, 

 and according to Fabricius, will not venture to 

 approach its enemy even when dead, though fond 

 of preying on other dead Whales. This Whal© 

 also devours the Cydopterus Lumpiis or Lump- 

 Fish, and many others. The Greenlanders use 

 the flesh, skin, oil, tendons, &c. in the same man- 

 ner as those of the Narwhal. It is reckoned very 

 diliicult to take ; being very tenacious of life, and 

 surviving for several days the wounds it receives 

 from its pursuers. 



It is in a vast cavity within the upper part of 

 the head of this Whale that the substance called 

 spermaceti is found, which while fresh and in its 

 natural receptacle, is nearly fluid ; but when ex- 

 posed to the air concretes into opake masses : this- 

 substance being so universally know^n, it becomes 

 unnecessary to describe it farther. 



A more curious and valuable production, the 

 origin of which had long eluded the investigation 

 of naturalists, is obtained from this animal, viz. 

 the celebrated perfume called Ambergris, which 



