The Land of tlu Hills and the Glens 



be induced to stop, offering fight to anyone who stood in 

 his path and attempted to delay his progress. 



During the time I and my companions were examin- 

 ing the young seals their parents showed great anxiety, 

 constantly pushing their heads above the surface of the 

 water and watching the intruders with their solemn eyes. 



In size the grey seal is considerably larger than the 

 common species. It is also relatively greater in circum- 

 ference, its girth being almost equal to its length, while 

 the brown seal is longer and thinner. In weight the 

 females of the grey species vary from about twenty up 

 to forty stone, while males of over sixty stone have been 

 killed. 



The young do not leave the rock for at least two 

 months after their birth, but can stand prolonged exposure 

 in the water. During the early days of November, 191 1, and 

 again in 1918, a severe westerly gale swept a number of young 

 seals off the rock, and they were carried before the storm 

 to the shores of the mainland. In some cases the mothers 

 accompanied them, and presumably reared them safely 

 after their trying experience. 



The November day is short, and even with fine weather 

 it is unwise to risk sailing in these exposed waters after 

 darkness has set in, so my visit to the rock was of neces- 

 sity a short one. Contrary winds delayed the homeward 

 progress, and it was not until the sun had dipped behind 

 the Atlantic and the rays of more than one lighthouse 

 were flashing far out to sea that the boat was brought 

 to her moorings in a little rocky creek, sheltered by a reef 

 of rocks from the Atlantic roll. 



30 



