4G6 HISTORY OF 



At the age of two jears tliey are called stunts, as tliey do not 

 thrive much immediately after quitting the breast ; they then 

 scarcely yield above twenty, or tvi'enty-four, barrels of blubber : 

 from that forward, they are called skull-fish, and their age is 

 wholly unknown. 



Every species of whale propagates only with those of its own 

 kind, and does not at all mingle with the rest ; however, they 

 »re generally seen in shoals, of different kinds together, and make 

 their migrations in large companies, from one ocean to another. 

 They are a gregarious animal, which implies their want of mu- 

 tual defence against the invasions of smaller, but more powerful, 

 lishes. It seems astonishing, therefore, how a shoal of these 

 enormous animals find subsistence together, when it would seem 

 that the supplying even one with food would require greater 

 jjlenty than the ocean could furnish. To increase our wonder, 

 we not only see them herding together, but usually find them 

 fitter than any other animals of whatsoever element. We like- 

 wise know that they cannot swallow large fishes, as their throat 

 is so narrow, that an animal larger than a herring could not en- 

 ter. How then do they subsist and grow so fat? — A small 

 insect, which is seen floating in those seas, and which Linnzeus 

 terras the Medusa, is sufficisnt for this supply. These insects 

 are black, and of the size of a small bean, and are sometimes 

 seen floating in clusters on the surface of the water. They are 

 of a round form, like snails in a box, but they have wings, which 

 are so tender, that it is scarcely possible to touch them without 

 breaking. These serve rather for swimming than flying ; and 

 the little animal is called by the Icelanders, the Walfischoas, 

 which signifies the whale's provender. They have the taste of 

 raw mussels, and have the smell of burnt sugar. These are the 

 food of the whale, which it is seen to draw up in great numbers 

 with its huge jaws, and to bruise between its barbs, which are 

 always found with several of these sticking among them.* 



» The food of the whale is g-encrally supposed to consist of different kinds 

 of sepije, medusne, or the clio limacina of Linnaeus ; but there is great rea. 

 son to suppose, that it is diiefly, if not altogether, of the squillse or shrimp 

 tribe ; for in examining the stomach of one of a large size, nothing else was 

 found in it : they were about half an inch long, semi-transparent, and of a 

 pale red colour. AVlien the whale feeds, it swims with considerable velocity 

 under water, with its mouth wide open ; the water enters by the fore.part, 

 bur is poured out again at the sides, and the food is entangled and sifted, aj 

 it were, bv the whalebone, which does not »Uow any tiling to esciipe. 



