voracious than these, nor can we be surprised at their voracity, when we consider their enor mous bulk, and the immense quantity of nourishment that they must of necessity require. They feed on various kinds of fish, which swim in shoals, both large and small, nor do they seem to refuse any marine animals that come in their way. They swallow myriads of the different kinds of jelly-fish, particularly the cuttle-fish, the beaks or jaws of which are often found in' their stomachs aud intestines; and they pursue and attack dolphins, porpoises, and even several species of Sharks. We are informed by Fabricius, that the tremendous white shark, so much dreaded by the other inhabitants of the ocean, ffies with precipitation from the Blunt-headed Cachalot that in the excess of its alarm, it will often dart to the bottom of the ocean, and endeavour to conceal itself in the sand or mud, from the piercing sight of its adversary: that it will sometimes incautiously throw itself against the rocks, with such force, as to occasion its almost immediate death; and that, in spite of its usual voracity, this shark will not dare to approach even the dead body of the Cachalot.

There is, in the upper part of the skull of the Cachalots, an immense cavity which contains the brain. This sometimes occupies nearly one fourth part of the whole head, extending from the front almost to the eyes, and being sometimes as much as sixteen or eighteen feet in length,

It

is divided horizontally into two parts, by a strong membrane, and each of these parts is again subdivided by vertical membranes, into numerous cells, which communicate with each other, and which contain a peculiar kind of fat, denominated spermaceti; this, which has been frequently mistaken for the brain, is sometimes found in such quantity, that as much as eighteen or twenty butts of it have been taken from the heads of the largest Cachalots.

The spermaceti, when the animals are alive, is perfectly fluid, but when cold, it is of a whitish colour, and is found in somewhat solid lumps. That which is considered the most pure, and consequently the most valuable, is contained in the smallest cells, which lie near the breathing holes, all along the upper part of the head, immediately above the skin. These cells resemble those which contain the common fat in the other parts of the body nearest the skin. A canal of considerable size communicates with the cavity of the head, containing the spermaceti, and branching from thence over the whole body, conveys to all the parts, a portion of this fluid to answer its peculiar purpose in the animal economy. Of this spermaceti, candles equal to those of wax in whiteness and good quality are made.

'The oil produced from this Cachalot is not by any means in such quantity as that produced from some of the whales; but in quality, it is far preferable, since it yields a bright flame,

without at the same time exhaling any nauseous smell. The flesh is of a pale red colour, not much unlike coarse pork, and is said to be very palatable as food.

The substance known by the name of ambergris, is produced from the body of this animal. It is generally found in the stomach, but sometimes in the intestines; and in a commercial view, it is a highly valuable production. As we see it in the shops, it is an opake substance, which varies in solidity, according to its exposure to a warm or cold atmosphere.

In a commercial view, the whale tribe is of great importance to mankind, supplying us, as has been mentioned, with those two valuable articles, oil and whalebone, and likewise with spermaceti. They are chiefly taken in the northern seas.

The English send out with every ship, six or seven boats; each of these has one harpooner, one man at the rudder, one to manage the line, and four seamen as rowers. In each boat, there are also two or three harpoons; several lances, and thirteen lines, each a hundred and twenty fathoms long, fastened together; these last are so strong as to lift a weight of five tons without breaking.

When arrived at that part of the ocean which the Whales are known to frequent, the boats are kept in readiness, the sailors are all on the alert, and one of the most intelligent men is stationed

at the mast-head, to give information when he sees a Whale. At that moment, all is bustle; the men leap into the boats, the harpooner stations himself at the prow, and they row off as fast as possible to where the Whale is seen, the ship following under all sail. The harpooner, standing up in the prow of the boat, holds his harpoon or javelin in his hand, five or six feet long, pointed with steel like the barbs of an arrow, of a triangular shape. As this person's place is one of the greatest dexterity, so is it one of the greatest danger; the Whale sometimes overturns the boat with a blow of his tail, and sometimes drives against it with fury. In general, however, the animal seems to sleep on the surface of the water, while the boat ap proaches within about twelve yards; to make the blow sure, the harpooner stands aloft, and with his harpoon tied to a cord of several hundred fathoms long, darts it into the Whale, and then rows as fast as possible away.

As soon as the Whale is struck with the harpoon, he darts down into the deep, carrying off the instrument in his body; and so extremely rapid is his motion, that, if the line were to entangle, it would either snap like a thread, or overset the boat. One man, therefore, is stationed to attend only to the line, that it may go regularly out, and prepared with a hatchet to out it, the instant it meets with the least check ; whilst another is employed in continually wetting

the place it runs against, that the wood may not take fire from the friction. It is very wonderful, that so large an animal should be able with such astonishing velocity to cut through the water; for its motion is as rapid as the flight of an eagle.

The Whale having dived to a considerable depth, remains at the bottom, sometimes for nearly half an hour, with the harpoon in its body; when it remains so long under water, they count it a good sign, as the animal will make but little resistance after. It then rises to take breath, expecting the danger over; but the instant it appears, they are all ready with their boats to receive it, and fling their harpoons into its body: the animal again dives, and again rises, while they repeat their blows. The ship follows in full sail, never loosing sight of the boats, and ready to lend them assistance. The whole ocean seems died in blood. Thus they renew their attacks, till the Whale begins to be quite enfeebled and spent, when they venture the boats quite up to him, and plunging their long spears into various parts of his body, the enormous animal at last expires.

The carcase no sooner begins to float, than holes are cut in the fins and tail; and ropes being fastened to these, it is towed to the ship, where it is lashed to the larboard, or left side, floating with the back in the water.

The operation next to be performed, is that of taking out the blubber and whale-bone. Several