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FOLIOS.  Among these I here include the following chapters:--

I. The Sperm Whale; II.  the Right Whale; III.  the Fin Back Whale; IV.

the Humpbacked Whale; V. the Razor Back Whale; VI.

the Sulphur Bottom Whale.



BOOK I. (Folio), CHAPTER I. (Sperm Whale).--This whale,

among the English of old vaguely known as the Trumpa whale and

the Physeter whale, and the Anvil Headed whale, is the present

Cachalot of the French, and the Pottsfich of the Germans,

and the Macrocephalus of the Long Words.  He is, without doubt,

the largest inhabitant of the globe; the most formidable of all

whales to encounter; the most majestic in aspect; and lastly,

by far the most valuable in commerce; he being the only creature

from which that valuable substance, spermaceti, is obtained.

All his peculiarities will, in many other places, be enlarged upon.

It is chiefly with his name that I now have to do.

Philologically considered, it is absurd.  Some centuries ago,

when the Sperm whale was almost wholly unknown in his own

proper individuality, and when his oil was only accidentally

obtained from the stranded fish; in those days spermaceti,