78 Dr. Harwood on the Structure and 



which I think goes by the name- of ground seal among the 

 Greenland fishers, and of whose skin the Greenlanders are said 

 to make their thongs for fishing. A specimen of this seal was 

 shot on the North coast of Scotland, which measured twelve 

 feet in length. There is, I believe, one of these preserved on 

 the top of the staircase at the British Museum. 



Among the seals, which are provided with external ears, of 

 the South Seas, and which have been associated under a new 

 name, are the Phoca jubata and the Phoca ursina. The 

 former being provided with a mane, and measuring fifteen feet 

 long ; while the latter is of much smaller size, and is destitute 

 of a mane. 



I have been much surprised at the numbers of common 

 seals, from three to five feet in length, which frequent the 

 Western coast of Ireland, having often seen there more than 

 twenty reposing together on a rock. Their numbers appear not 

 only to be owing to the unfrequented nature of that interesting 

 part of Great Britain ; but certain superstitions of the fisher- 

 men induce them on all possible occasions to spare their lives. 

 The common seal also abounds on the North shores of Scot- 

 land, and the Hebrides ; but, of course, from increasing perse- 

 cution, rapidly decreases in numbers as we proceed south. 



The brain of this animal is, I think, doubtless, of greater 

 proportionate magnitude, than in any other quadruped, and 

 not only does it exhibit in its countenance the appearance 

 of sagacity, but its intelligence is in reality far greater than 

 in most land quadrupeds : hence its domestication is rendered 

 much easier than that of other animals, and it is susceptible of 

 more powerful attachment. These circumstances do not excite 

 more interest among the naturalists of the present day, than 

 they did long ago with Aristotle, iElian, Pliny, and other 

 ancient observers of nature. It is evidently the common seal, 

 to which Aristotle alludes in his description ; and his obser- 

 vation, that it is the only quadruped which searches for its food 

 in the sea, would lead us to suppose that he had not an oppor- 

 tunity of acquainting himself with the walrus and sea otter. 



The large seal, which was exhibited some time ago at Exeter 

 Change, appeared to me to understand the language of its 

 keeper as perfectly as the most faithful dog. When he entered 

 atone end of its long apartment, it raised its body from the water, 



