Mr. Ball on the Species of Seals inhabiting the Irish Seas. 93 



exception alluded to, the figure would serve as a good portrait of the skull in my 

 possession, and there is no sudden increase in the breadth of the intermaxillary 

 bones where they join the nasal so conspicuous in the seal of the Severn here- 

 after noticed, to which he also applies the specific name of Grcenlandica, 

 considering it identical with the Orkney seal. 



On the 30th of September last, I received from my friend Mr. Yates a living 

 specimen, taken two days before at Lissadill, County Sligo. It appeared in 

 perfect health, was about three feet eight inches in length, and its short muzzle, 

 high forehead, and large eyes, strongly distinguish it from Halichcerus. When wet, 

 it is almost black, variegated with whitish slate colour, and is somewhat lighter on 

 the breast than on the other parts : when dry, it is of a light, pearly grey colour. 

 It had, when I received it, a portion of long fawn-coloured hair on its flanks, 

 evidently the remains of a more general coat, but this fell off in a few days. On 

 turning this seal out on the grass at the Zoological Gardens, it advanced fearlessly 

 on the person nearest to it, and was not to be turned aside, though pretty smartly 

 struck with a heavy cloth. Its mode of battle is, when within a proper distance, 

 to turn on its side, and scratch with its uppermost fore-paw, which it is able to 

 extend considerably, and use with great power and rapidity. It seldom attempts 

 to bite ; and I have not observed it snarl in the unpleasant manner uniformly 

 practised by all the Halichoeri I have seen in captivity. It has a singular and 

 effective mode of progression, accomplished by convulsive starting jumps as it 

 lies on its side, with its fore-paws on its breast, and its hind ones closely pressed 

 together. Its ordinary motion, a sort of gallop, is tolerably rapid, and the power 

 of continuing it is considerable, as was evidenced by its having passed over rough 

 ground to a distance of at least a mile and a half, on escaping one night from the 

 place in which it was confined. This animal refused food for twenty-two days 

 after its original capture, but has since fed freely on whiting,* (Gadus Mer- 

 langus,) which is swallowed whole, the head merely being first a little bruised. 

 It knows the keeper, and can distinguish at a distance whether he has fish with 

 him or not. Its attention seems always alive to passing objects, and when a bird 

 alights in its cage, the attempt to capture it is quite laughable : the seal com- 

 mences by fixing its eyes on it with all the apparent earnestness of a pointer dog, 



* It is allowed 6 lbs. of fish per diem, but would eat much more. 



X 



