ACTIONS OF THE SPERM WHALE* 
47 
they will sometimes coil an amazing length of line around 
them. They sometimes also place themselves in a per- 
pendicular posture, with the head only above the water, 
presenting in this position a most extraordinary appear- 
ance when seen from a distance, resembling large black 
rocks in the midst of the ocean ; this posture they seem 
to assume for the purpose of surveying more perfectly, 
or more easily, the surrounding expanse. A species of 
whale called by whalers “ black fish,” is most frequently 
in the habit of assuming this position. 
The eyes of the sperm whale being placed in the 
widest part of the head, of course afford the animal an 
extensive field of vision, and he appears to view objects 
very readily that are placed laterally in a direct line 
with the eye, and when they are placed at some dis- 
tance before him. His common manner of looking at a 
boat or ship is to turn over on his side, so as to cause 
the rays from the object to strike directly upon the 
retina. 
Now when alarmed, and consequently anxious to take 
as rapid a glance as possible on all sides, he can much 
more readily do so when in the above-described perpen- 
dicular posture, and this consequently appears to be the 
reason of his assuming it. 
Occasionally, when lying at the surface, the whale 
appears to amuse itself by violently beating the water 
with its tail ; this act is called “ lob-tailing,” and the 
water lashed in this way into foam, is termed “ white 
water ” by the whaler, and by it the whale is recognised 
from a great distance. 
