As he does so he exhales the air from his lungs through blow-holes or spiracles at the top of his head; and this warm, moist air, coming thus from his lungs into the cool air, condenses, forming a jet of vapor looking like a fountain, though there is, in fact, no spout of water.

"There she blows! B-l-o-o-o-ws! Blo-o-ows!" cries the lookout at this spectacle.

All is activity at once on deck, the captain calling to the lookout for the direction and character of the "pod" or school.

The sperm whale throws his spout forward at an angle, instead of perpendicularly into the air, and hence is easily distinguished from right whales at a distance.

The ship is then headed toward the game, coming to about a mile away.