{"id":"01KG8AP6N67NV518GWR0WVQND2","cid":"bafkreiae6io2onzthuwo5we6qapl6jevhr6kcdzskywe46julcxtic43gy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":14724,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:30.771Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6","start_line":14667,"text":"Such is the subtle elasticity of the organ I treat of, that whether\r\nwielded in sport, or in earnest, or in anger, whatever be the mood it\r\nbe in, its flexions are invariably marked by exceeding grace. Therein\r\nno fairy’s arm can transcend it.\r\n\r\nFive great motions are peculiar to it. First, when used as a fin for\r\nprogression; Second, when used as a mace in battle; Third, in sweeping;\r\nFourth, in lobtailing; Fifth, in peaking flukes.\r\n\r\nFirst: Being horizontal in its position, the Leviathan’s tail acts in a\r\ndifferent manner from the tails of all other sea creatures. It never\r\nwriggles. In man or fish, wriggling is a sign of inferiority. To the\r\nwhale, his tail is the sole means of propulsion. Scroll-wise coiled\r\nforwards beneath the body, and then rapidly sprung backwards, it is\r\nthis which gives that singular darting, leaping motion to the monster\r\nwhen furiously swimming. His side-fins only serve to steer by.\r\n\r\nSecond: It is a little significant, that while one sperm whale only\r\nfights another sperm whale with his head and jaw, nevertheless, in his\r\nconflicts with man, he chiefly and contemptuously uses his tail. In\r\nstriking at a boat, he swiftly curves away his flukes from it, and the\r\nblow is only inflicted by the recoil. If it be made in the unobstructed\r\nair, especially if it descend to its mark, the stroke is then simply\r\nirresistible. No ribs of man or boat can withstand it. Your only\r\nsalvation lies in eluding it; but if it comes sideways through the\r\nopposing water, then partly owing to the light buoyancy of the\r\nwhale-boat, and the elasticity of its materials, a cracked rib or a\r\ndashed plank or two, a sort of stitch in the side, is generally the\r\nmost serious result. These submerged side blows are so often received\r\nin the fishery, that they are accounted mere child’s play. Some one\r\nstrips off a frock, and the hole is stopped.\r\n\r\nThird: I cannot demonstrate it, but it seems to me, that in the whale\r\nthe sense of touch is concentrated in the tail; for in this respect\r\nthere is a delicacy in it only equalled by the daintiness of the\r\nelephant’s trunk. This delicacy is chiefly evinced in the action of\r\nsweeping, when in maidenly gentleness the whale with a certain soft\r\nslowness moves his immense flukes from side to side upon the surface of\r\nthe sea; and if he feel but a sailor’s whisker, woe to that sailor,\r\nwhiskers and all. What tenderness there is in that preliminary touch!\r\nHad this tail any prehensile power, I should straightway bethink me of\r\nDarmonodes’ elephant that so frequented the flower-market, and with low\r\nsalutations presented nosegays to damsels, and then caressed their\r\nzones. On more accounts than one, a pity it is that the whale does not\r\npossess this prehensile virtue in his tail; for I have heard of yet\r\nanother elephant, that when wounded in the fight, curved round his\r\ntrunk and extracted the dart.\r\n\r\nFourth: Stealing unawares upon the whale in the fancied security of the\r\nmiddle of solitary seas, you find him unbent from the vast corpulence\r\nof his dignity, and kitten-like, he plays on the ocean as if it were a\r\nhearth. But still you see his power in his play. The broad palms of his\r\ntail are flirted high into the air; then smiting the surface, the\r\nthunderous concussion resounds for miles. You would almost think a\r\ngreat gun had been discharged; and if you noticed the light wreath of\r\nvapor from the spiracle at his other extremity, you would think that\r\nthat was the smoke from the touch-hole.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AM9QN704AKJS0W1C1Z4DH","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AP6N6XQ1XXNXPFVGABSPX","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AP7877S4N39ABMXXWEQY2","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:34.886Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:52.229Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}