SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



day when the thermometer is but ten degrees 

 above zero and the air is filled with snow as 

 dry as dust scudding before a northeasterly 

 gale. On such a day twenty-six seals were 

 stretched in various positions of watchfulness 

 and repose on the bar, and the snow was drift- 

 ing about them. The use of the telescope was 

 difficult, and I could not feel sure whether 

 the water was frozen on their coats or not. 

 The beasts were more apart than usual and 

 apparently did not need to huddle together 

 for warmth. A seal's circulation must be 

 wonderfully active, and his coat of fur and 

 blubber wonderfully warm. It is evident that 

 the bar is sought for repose and not solely, 

 as is generally supposed, for a sun-bath. 



On June 11th, 1910, in a violent easterly 

 rain-storm, conditions which ensure a delight- 

 ful privacy on the beach, I witnessed an in- 

 teresting scene near the mouth of the Essex 

 River. On the inner side of a sand-spit, con- 

 nected by a narrow isthmus with the beach, 

 a large seal was lying close to a baby seal of 

 about one-third of its length. The old one 

 wriggled into the water as soon as it saw me, 

 but presently returned, evidently to urge its 

 young to flee with it. The young one appar- 



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