THE HARBOR SEAL 



with their heads above water, like so many 

 black dogs, evidently delighted with the 

 sounds. For half an hour, or, indeed, for any 

 length of time I chose, I could fix them to the 

 spot; and when I moved along the water's 

 edge, they would follow me with eagerness, 

 like the Dolphins, who, it is said, attended 

 Arion, as if anxious to prolong the enjoy- 

 ment." It is related that when the bell is 

 rung for divine service in the church of Hoy 

 in Orkne}^, all the seals gather about the 

 neighboring shore, an incident, however, that 

 illustrates their enquiring, rather than their 

 religious, spirit. 



I myself have attempted the Arion role by 

 singing " My Country, 'tis of thee " without 

 producing any impression on the seals, favor- 

 able or unfavorable. Perhaps they did not 

 recognize my efforts as music, and it is possi- 

 ble that I should have adopted the methods 

 used by a naturalist in Jamaica who, it is said, 

 when a boy, wishing to entice some snakes 

 from beneath a rock by the power of music, 

 marched around it beating a tin can and sing- 

 ing his favorite hymn, *' Hark my soul, it is 

 the Lord." 



In exceptionally calm weather, when there 

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