The White Whale, a Sperm Whale?

Stubb called his boat's crew and pulled off for the stranger drawing across her bow. He perceived that in accordance with the fanciful french taste the upper part of her stem piece was carved in the likeness of ta huge drooping stalk. Was painted green, and for thorns, had copper spikes projecting from it here and there. The whole terminating in a symmetrical, folded bulb of a bright red color. Upon her headboards, in large gilt letters, he read, boutin de rose, rose button, or rosebud. And this was the romantic name of this aromaticThough stobb did not understand the boutem part of the inscription yet, the word rose and