THE HARBOR SEAL 



backs, and appear to be completely relaxed in 

 sleep, while others are very wide awake, and 

 assume a bent-bow position, the curve of the 

 side or belly alone resting on the sand. 



There are always some of the herd on the 

 watch, and these often appear nervously over- 

 anxious, looking first one way, and then the 

 other. Such large and intelligent eyes they 

 have! There is something very human about 

 these beasts. They certainly enjoy the luxury 

 of their between-tide naps, even if there are 

 anxious moments now and then, and it is very 

 soothing to see a fat old seal, stretched flat 

 on his back, extend both his apologies for 

 arms on the sand, and indulge in a wonderful 

 yawn which displays a huge pink mouth. 



The posterior flippers— the hind feet— are 

 generally carried palm to palm, or sole to sole, 

 so that the thin edge points up and down in 

 relation to the longitudinal axis of the body, 

 instead of lying flat on the ground, as usually 

 depicted. The seals frequently wave these 

 flippers separately, spreading out the five 

 toes, or press them together as if they were 

 grasping hands; again they painfully bend 

 one or both forward in a restrained manner 

 that suggests hand-cuffs and a vain attempt 



167 



