The Greenland " or " right" whale (Balcena mysticetus) inhabits the Arctic Seas of both hemi spheres; it usually affords about 125 barrels of blubber, which is converted into the ac-called " train-oil." The " polar " whale (B. glacialis) is abundant around Greenland, Iceland, and the North Cape ; it yields about 90 barrels of blubber. The " southern " or " Cape " whale (B. ant arctica) is found in the South Seas. The " humpback " whale (Balcenoptera Boops) inhabits the northern seas; it is less rich in oil than the " right " whale. The " finner " (Balcenoptera Gibbar), a native of northern seas, is difficult to take, and furnishes a small quantity of oil, but of excellent quality. Balcena rostrata is met with on the coasts of Scotland. The thickness of the " blubber," or oleaginous cellular membrane, in a whale varies from 8 to 20 in. It is very coarse in texture, and harder than pork. The oil is drained from it by cutting it into pieces and placing these in racks, through which the oil drips down into casks. It is then heated at 107° (225° F.) to remove the unpleasant odour, and to assist the clarification. It is next pumped over with water, left to cool, and finally barrelled. (For Spermaceti, see p. 1371).
Miscellaneous.—Besides the oils and fats mentioned under the preceding headings, all of which are important commercial articles, there are many others obtained from members of the animal kingdom, some identified, others not yet referable to exact species, which, though not deserving of such prominent notice as the former, still cannot be altogether overlooked. They aro as follows : Alpaca-tallow, the fat of some species of Auchenia (see Hair—Alpaca, p. 1093), is used in pomades in portions of S. America.
Anabas scandens, in the Malay Archipelago, gives a fish oil.
Ant-grease is obtained from white ants or termites on the Gahoon, by boiling them in large vessels, and skimming off the fat which floats ; it is used as food. Another yellow or reddish brown fatty oil is produced by expressing the residue left on distilling ants.
Badger-grease was formerly used in medicine, and is now employed in Austria for carriage grease ; melting-point, 30° (86° F.).
Barbus Chola, in the Malay Archipelago, gives a fish oil.
Bat-grease (FR., Graisse de .Roussette Mule) is obtained from the " kalong " or (erroneously) "flying-fox," a large bat (Pteropus edulis) of New Caledonia, the Moluccas, and the Sundas; it has the properties of lard.
Bear-grease, from N. America, was formerly used in medicine and perfumery.
Beetle-oil, obtained from Carabus saponarius, of Senegal, is used as soap.
Cochineal-fat, from the cochineal-insect (Coccus cacti), melts at 40° (104° F.).
Cochehafer-oil (FR., Huile de Hanneton), obtained from Melolontha vulgaris, is used for lighting, and for the manufacture of carriage-grease, in Hungary.
Conger-eel-oil is obtained from Murcena Congre in the N. Atlantic (see p. 1364).
Cooawanoo-oil is procured from the reptile Caouana divacea [C/ielonia Cephalo] in the E. Indies. Dog-grease is used medicinally, and in the manufacture of glazed gloves, on the Continent ; melting-point, 26° F.).
Duck-grease, from Anser spp., contains 72 per cent. oleine and 28 stearine ; melting-point, 25° (77° F.).
Emu-grease, from Dromaius nonce hollandice, is obtained by boiling the akin in small pieces after removal of the feathers, and is much esteemed by the colonists and natives of Australia as a remedy for sprains and rheumatism.
Frigate-bird-oil is got from the " frigate-bird " (Tachypetis aquila) in tropical regions.
Fulmar-oil is derived from the "fulmar petrel " (Procellaria glacialis), which bird is found in myriads on the islands of the N. Atlantic, e. g. the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands, Fmroes, and Iceland ; the oil is abundant, and resembles that from cod-liver. (For Petrel-oil, see p. 1376).
Fur-seal-oil, from Otaria spp., is occasionally imported into London by the Falkland Islands Co. : each animal's blubber furnishes about gal. of excellent oil, adapted to the same purposes as ordinary seal-oil ; it is mostly wasted. The value of the exports is included in Penguin-oil (aee p. 1376).
Gata-oil, from an unknown fish, is used in the Caps Verdes, and esteemed superior to cod-liver oil in medicine.
Ghee, or clarified butter, chiefly made from buffalo-milk, is universally employed in domestic cooking iu India, and is an important article of local trade. Thus the value of the exports from Persia in 1879 were 15,000 rupees from Bushire, 32,000 from Lingab, and 5000 from Bahrein.
Giboia-grease (or oil) is from an undetermined Brazilian animal.
Goose-grease contains 68 per cent. oleine and 32 stearine.
Guacharo-oil is obtained from the so-called " oil-bird," diablotin (French Antilles), or " Trinidad goat-sucker" (Steatornis caripensis), found in Venezuela, Trinidad, Ecuador, the Peruvian Andes, and New Granada. It is a nocturnal bird, inhabiting deep, dark caverns, and feeding exclusively on oleaginous fruits. The young, soon after being hatched, become a mass of fat, when they are taken in immense numbers by the Venezuelan Indians, about midsummer, by the aid of torches and long poles ; their fat is removed, and melted down over fires kindled at the cavern mouth, and the oil is run into earthen pots, and preserved for cooking and lighting purposes ; it is pure and limpid, free from unpleasant taste or smell, and keeps sweet for a year.