 regularly hunted by
man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known
varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly
observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the
Pequod's side; and as we may freely go from one to the other, by merely stepping
across the deck: - where, I should like to know, will you obtain a better chance
to study practical cetology than here?
    In the first place, you are struck by the general contrast between these
heads. Both are massive enough in all conscience; but there is a certain
mathematical symmetry in the sperm whale's which the right whale's sadly lacks.
There is more character in the sperm whale's head. As you behold it, you
involuntarily yield the immense superiority to him, in point of pervading
dignity. In the present instance, too, this dignity is heightened by the pepper
and salt colour of his head at the summit, giving token of advanced age and
large experience. In short, he is what the fishermen technically call a
gray-headed whale.
    Let us now note what is least dissimilar in these heads - namely, the two
most important organs, the eye and the ear. Far back on the side of the head,
and low down, near the angle of either whale's jaw, if you narrowly search, you
will at last see a lashless eye, which you would fancy to be a young colt's eye;
so out of all proportion is it to the magnitude of the head.
    Now, from this peculiar sideway position of the whale's eyes, it is plain
that he can never see an object which is exactly ahead, no more than he can one
exactly astern. In a word, the position of the whale's eyes corresponds to that
of a man's ears; and you may fancy, for yourself, how it would fare with you,
did you sideways survey objects through your ears. You would find that you could
only command some thirty degrees of vision in advance of the straight side-line
of sight; and about thirty more behind it. If your bitterest foe were walking
straight toward you, with dagger uplifted in broad day, you would not be able to
see him, any more than if he were stealing upon you from behind. In a word, you
would have two backs, so to speak; but, at the same time, also, two fronts
(side-fronts): for what is it that
