of Ambtrgrife . $35 
bring it nearer to that degree of certainty which I propofed at 
the beginning of this paper, it will now be proper to examine 
the principal quefHon, Whether all ambergrife is generated in- 
die bowels of the whale, or whether it is limply an extraneous 
fubfhance taken in with the food ? In order to elucidate this mat- 
ter, it will be neceffary to refolve the following queftions : 
1 ft. Whether there is any material difference between am- 
bergrife found upon the fea or fea-coaft, and that found in the 
bowels or among the dung of the whale, either with regard to 
its qualities and chemical principles, or with refpect to the he- 
terogeneous fubftances that are mixed with it ? And 2dly, If 
there is any fuch difference, in what does it confift ? 
From the moft exa£t information I have been able to procure 
on this fubjedt, I find that what feveral authors have aflerted, 
that all ambergrife found in whales is of an inferior quality, 
and therefore much lefs in price, is deftitute of truth. Amber- 
grife is only valued for its purity, lightnefs, compadlnefs, co- 
lour, and ftneU. There are pieces of ambergrife found on 
different coaffs, which are of a very inferior quality, whereas 
there are often found pieces of it in w r hales of the fir ft value ; 
nay, feveral pieces found in the fame whale, according to the 
above-mentioned qualities, are more or lefs valuable. All am- 
bergrife found in “Whales has at firft when taken out of the in- 
teftines very near the fame fmell as the liquid excrements of 
that animal have ; it has then alfo nearly the fame blackifh co- 
lour : they find it in the whale fometimes quite hard, fome- 
times rather foftifh, but never fo liquid as the natural faeces of 
that animal. And it is a matter of fact, that, after being taken 
out and kept in the air, all ambergrife grows not only harder 
and whiter, but alfo lofes by degrees its fmell, and affumes 
fuch an agreeable one, as that in general has which is found 
H h z fwimming 
