That it was not the spawn of the Whale, according to vulgar conceit, or nominal appellation Phylosophers have always doubted, not easily conceiving the Seminal humour of Animals, should be inflamable; or of a floating nature.
That it proceedeth from a Whale, beside the relation of _Clusius_ and other learned observers, was indubitably determined, not many years since by a Sperma-Ceti Whale, cast on our coast of _Norfolk_ [SN: _Near_ Wells.]. Which, to lead on further inquiry, we cannot omit to inform. It contained no less then sixty foot in length, the head somewhat peculiar, with a large prominency over the mouth; teeth only in the lower Jaw, received into fleshly sockets in the upper. The Weight of the largest about two pound: No gristly substances in the mouth, commonly called Whale-bones; Only two short finns seated forwardly on the back; the eyes but small, the pizell large, and prominent. A lesser Whale of this kind above twenty years ago, was cast upon the same shore. [SN: _Near_ Hunstanton.]
The discription of this Whale seems omitted by _Gesner_, _Rondeletius_, and the first Editions of _Aldrovandus_; but describeth the latin impression of _Pareus_, in the Exoticks of _Clusius_, and the natural history of _Nirembergius_; but more amply in Icons and figures of _Johnstonus_.
Mariners (who are not the best Nomenclators) called it a _Jubartas_, or rather _Gibbartas_. Of the same appellation we meet with one in _Rondeletius_, called by the _French_ Gibbar, from its round and Gibbous back. The name _Gibbarta_ we find also given unto one kind of _Greenland_ Whales: But this of ours seemed not to answer the Whale of that denomination; but was more agreeable unto the _Trumpa_ or Sperma-Ceti Whale: according to the account of our _Greenland_ describers in _Purchas_. And maketh the third among the eight remarkable Whales of that Coast.
Out of the head of this Whale, having been dead divers days, and under putrifaction, flowed streams of oyl and Sperma-Ceti; which was carefully taken up and preserved by the Coasters. But upon breaking up, the Magazin of Sperma-Ceti, was found in the head lying in folds and courses, in the bigness of goose eggs, encompassed with large flakie substances, as large as a mans head, in form of hony-combs, very white and full of oyl.