DOCILITY OF THE SEAL. 407 



even contriving to creep through an open window, and to gain access to the warm fireside. 

 The end of this poor creature was a sadly tragic one, and need not be narrated here. 



In the same work is a very spirited account of another Seal adventure, in which the 

 ludicrous element prevails, although it might have furnished material for tragedy. 



A number of men had gone in a boat to the Sound of Achil, and having seen a Seal and 

 her young one reposing on the sand, had borrowed an old musket, and set off to attack them. 

 They succeeded in securing the cub before it could reach the sea, and tossed it into their boat. 

 The mother Seal, however, inspired by maternal love, swam after the boat which contained 

 her offspring, and could not be deterred from following the captors in the hope of rescuing her 

 child. The men attempted several times to shoot the poor creature, but their rickety weapon 

 would not explode until it had been several times futilely snapped. At last, however, it per- 

 formed its duty, and lodged the ball in the Seal's head. 



The body was immediately lifted into the boat, when, to the horror of the captors, the 

 animal, which was only stunned, recovered its senses, and began a most furious attack upon its 

 enemies, floundering about the boat with such energy that she nearly overset it, and snapping 



SKELETON AND TEETH OP COMMON SEAL. 







fiercely at the legs of her antagonists. The contest soon assumed a serious aspect, for the 

 teeth of the angry animal were urged with such fury that they cut deeply into the oars with 

 which her attacks were warded off, and if assistance had not speedily arrived, the result might 

 have been of a very tragic nature. A gentleman, however, that happened to be sailing near 

 the scene of combat, was attracted by the curious spectacle of a boat' s crew engaged in such 

 strange evolutions, and directing his course towards them, ended the combat by a rifle bullet. 



Of late days, performing Seals have come into vogue under various titles, among which 

 the "Talking Fish" is well known. These clever animals have been taught to perform sundry 

 ingenious feats, requiring not only an intelligent mind to comprehend, but an activity of body 

 to execute, apparently incompatible with the conformation of the animal. 



They will "bark at the word of command, their phocine tongue being very freely translated 

 into the language of any country in which they may happen to be ; they will rotate in their 

 water tub with singular velocity ; they will offer to kiss any one who is not afraid of their 

 large wet hairy mouth, and in fine will go through many similar performances with great skill 

 and seeming enjoyment of the attention paid to them by their visitors. For they are wonder- 

 fully fond of admiration, these Seals, and although very shy to those with whom they are 

 unacquainted, and before they have become accustomed to the sight of strangers, are highly 

 appreciative of the kind words and caresses which fall to their lot while they are going through 

 their tricks. 



Even the Seals at the Zoological Gardens, who are not put through any particular training, 

 are not without their little coquetries with regard to the ever-changing circle of visitors who 

 stand around the railings which inclose their habitations, while their demonstrations of affec- 

 tion towards the keeper who attends to their wants are quite lively. They recognize him at a 

 considerable distance, and shooting rapidly through the water, fling themselves upon the bank, 

 scuttle to the iron fence and rear themselves against the rails in impatient greetings, long 



