MODE OF LIVING—MANNER OF TAKING THEIR FOOD, &c.
The Spermaceti as well as the Common Whale feeds on the smallest insects
or animalcula of the ocean, its capacious mouth with the vast fringes
of whalebone attached to the inside of its mouth is a most excellent
filter, enabling it to receive a large quantity of water at a mouthful,
and to separate the sea-weed and gravel from it, even of the size of a
pin’s head. This substance, called whalebone, is taken from the upper
jaw of the animal, and is very different from the real bones, which
resemble those of great land animals. When we reflect, my son, that the
same _almighty power_, whose will has formed the immense whale, has also
given animation and senses to the smallest sea insects which are the food
of this marine monster, how must our pride be lowered, while we are so
unable to comprehend the mechanism which puts them in motion, and much
less that intelligence and power which has given them life. Let us then
exclaim in astonishment and gratitude with the sweet singer of Israel,
“O Lord, how inscrutable are thy ways, how magnificent thy works!” As
the whale must rise to the surface of the sea to breathe, its tail is
placed horizontally, to enable it to ascend and descend more quickly.
This animal is dull of hearing, although its sense of seeing is acute.
They will discover one another in clear water when under the surface at
an amazing distance; when at the top of the water however they do not
see far. They have no voice, but in breathing or blowing they make a
very loud noise; they throw the water through their blow holes, which
are situated upon the head, many yards high, which looks at a distance
like a puff of smoke; and, when the whale is wounded, is often red with
blood. Although this animal is so large, it will sometimes descend
perpendicularly after being harpooned, at the astonishing velocity of
eight miles an hour; their usual rate of swimming when not pursued is
never more than half that number. They are seldom found asleep; they are
however _occasionally_ found sleeping in calm weather among the ice in
northern latitudes. When the whale feeds, it swims pretty swiftly with
its mouth open just below the surface of the sea. This animal has but one
young at a time, which is from ten to fifteen feet long at its birth; it
goes with its mother for at least one year, until it is supposed that
the whalebone or filter has grown sufficient to enable it to procure its
own food. The love of the whale for its young is great, so that whalers,
whenever they can harpoon them, are pretty sure of getting its parent;
for whenever the young rises to the surface of the water to breathe, the
old whale will join and encourage it to swim off, and will often take it
under her fin, and seldom deserts it while life remains. I will give
you, William, to-morrow, an incident which took place in 1811, on board
of a Northern Whaler.
[Illustration]