666 



MR. J. A. MORCH ON 



various Blue Whales have been observed by Prof. G. O. Sars to 

 consist chiefly of Boreophausia ineronis. The Blue Whales aie 

 remarkably free from parasites, this perhaps owing to the cir- 

 cumstance that their outer skin easily peels oft". 



Finback Whales. — Impregnation is supposed to take place in 

 January-March, and the period of gestation to be about twelve 

 months. The length of the new-born calf is about 20 feet. Yeiy 

 3^oung calves are always seen together with full-grown individuals 

 in schools, older calves sometimes in schools by themselves. It is 

 supposed in the locality in question that among 50-60 Finback 

 cows 10-15 will have foetuses and a lesser number will be 

 accompanied by calves. Some cows give birth to their young 

 in those waters, some go westwards to other localities. It is 

 supposed that the cows do not become pregnant every year. 



Text-fi?. 162. 



Typical site of Epizoic Crustacea on the ventral surface of a Humpback Whale. 



As the Finback \Miales in the North Atlantic feed on 

 plankton, caplin {Mallotus villosus),Rnd herrings, their distribution 

 at most times of the year depends on the appearance of these 

 various sorts of food. The whalers distinguish three varieties: 



