OF THE SPERM WHALE. 
29 
differs in the most remarkable degree from the Greenland 
whale, the shape of whose head more resembles that of 
the porpoise, and in it the nostril is situated much farther 
back, rendering it seldom or ever necessary for the nose 
to be elevated above the surface of the water ; and when 
swimming even at the greatest speed, the Greenland 
whale keeps nearly the whole of the head under it, but 
as his head tapers off evenly in front, this circumstance 
does not much impede his motion, the rate of which is, 
however, never equal to that of the greatest rate of the 
sperm whale. 
It seems, indeed, in point of fact, that this purpose of 
rendering the head of light specific gravity, is the only 
use of this mass of oil and spermaceti, although some 
have supposed, and not without some degree of probabi- 
lity, that the “ junk” especially may be serviceable in 
obviating the injurious effects of concussion, should the 
whale happen to meet with any obstacle when in full 
career. This supposition, however, would appear hardly 
tenable, when we consider the Greenland whale, although 
living among the rock-like icebergs of the arctic seas, 
has no such convenient provision, and with senses pro- 
bably in all, and certainly in one respect less acute than 
those of the sperm whale, on which account it would seem 
requisite for him to possess this defence rather than the 
sperm whale, whose habitation is for the most part in the 
smiling latitudes of the southern seas. Considering the 
habits and mode of feeding, and the superior activity 
and apparent intelligence of the sperm whale, we shall be 
prepared to expect that he must possess a corresponding 
