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Ambergris is a variegated inflammable substance produced in the intestines of the cachelot or spermaceti whale and generally found floating on the sea. It is a valuable perfumery ingredient, and is used in the East for flavoring purposes.
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Category: Nature
6 Comments
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Bury
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Category: Nature
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Rolled for being the wackiest subject for a lens! 1 question though, why is it illegal to sell it in Australia?
My wife saw a news article on it today and for some reason I already knew it was whales vomit. I think I read an article about it a few years ago. And I joked and said "yep, I've already got a lens on it". I didn't of course, but she said she wouldn't be surprised. So I just had to make one!
I think the legality is because they wouldn't want to encourage whaling, even the non-commercial capture of whales (no doubt there'd be a few unsavoury types that would go out of their way to make big money). In reality though, it wouldn't be easy to find and capture a sperm whale. I think it's unfortunate that a person can't cash in on something that has washed up on the beach.
It's also a laugh that it's due to a squid that starts the whole process!
LOL - well done. Only questions remaining is how is it pronounced, with a hard "s", or does it end as in "gree"?
Not sure.
There's no news reports uploaded at Youtube.
I'll have to check one of my dictionaries and see if it's got anything on pronunciation.
The 's' seems to be pronounced...
http://www.answers.com/ambergris&r=67
I think I found a piece like that on the beach in Alaska. It's the weirdest thing - can't tell what it is. Not plastic, not bone, not wood, not too heavy...gotta go check your lens out.