127 
of oil, which now sells at about L.30 or 
L. 35 per ton. 
The Babena Mysticetus , according to 
Marten, and other North Sea voyagers, 
feeds chiefly upon a species of vermes , cal¬ 
led Clio Limacina , or Sea May Fly,* which 
are found in surprising numbers through¬ 
out the Arctic seas. According to Fa- 
bricius, the principal food of the whale 
consists of two different species of sea 
insects; f while Linnaeus maintains that 
they live chiefly on the Medusa CapiU 
lata, or sea blubber. This last substance, 
commonly called by Greenlandmen 
whale's meat , resembles frog-spawn, and 
is frequently seen floating on the sur¬ 
face of the Northern seas. 
Their time of parturition is in April, 
and though they ar$ said to bring forth 
* Phipps, p. 195. 
Cancer pcdatus ct oculatvs. Faun, GroenL 
i ’ 
