We again raised whales on Monday, July 28th, and gave chase as usual. The waist-boat soon fastened to a fine long fellow, who did not like to be trifled with, it seemed, in such a manner, and commenced thrashing about in a way that threatened destruction to the boats in the vicinity. After working himself into a towering passion, he ended the fracas by knocking the waist-boat “higher than a kite,” and sent the crew flying in all directions. The men were soon picked up, and, when the whale saw the mischief which he had done, repenting, we suppose, he remained quiet, and submitted to the “killing process” with a very good grace, and “gave up the ghost” in the usual style. The body was towed to the ship, and the “funeral ceremonies” were performed in short order, his beautiful coat soon converted into sperm oil and stowed away in the hold. [Illustration: STOVE.] CHAPTER XVIII. Food of the Sperm Whale.—Manner of Feeding.—Swimming.—Breathing.— Herding. In the many books which have been written of whaling voyages, we recollect nowhere to have seen a _natural history_ of the sperm whale, and we trust it will not be uninteresting to the reader if we give it in the present volume. It can not but be instructive, at all events, and, being satisfied on that point, we shall proceed; and, first, _The Food of the Sperm Whale_.—This food consists almost wholly of an animal called by whalemen “squid,” and by naturalists the “_Sepia octopus_.” This squid forms the principal part of the sustenance of the sperm whale when at a distance from the shore, or what is termed “off shore ground.” _Manner of Feeding_.—It appears from all that we could learn from the oldest and most experienced whalemen that we met, and from the observations we have been enabled to make upon this interesting subject, that when the whale is inclined to feed he descends a certain depth below the surface of the ocean, and there remains in as quiet a state as possible, opening his long and narrow mouth until the lower jaw hangs down almost perpendicularly. The roof of his mouth, the tongue, and especially the teeth, being of a bright, glistening color, must present a remarkable appearance, which seems to be the incitement by which his prey are attracted, and when a sufficient number are within the mouth, he rapidly closes his jaw and swallows the contents. This is not the only instance of animals obtaining their prey by such means, when the form of their bodies, from unwieldiness or some other cause, prevents them from securing their prey in any other manner, or by the common method of the chase. The crocodile frequently employs stratagems of the like nature. Covering himself in mud, and lying still on the bank of some stream, he opens his enormous jaws, when hundreds of smaller reptiles, attracted by the mucus or slime which covers his exterior, become the easy prey of the artful machinations of their scaly deceiver.