WHALES, SEALS AND WALRUSES 



closed as she surfaced and began to "blow". She took 

 sixteen deep breaths and then slowly sank again with her 

 nostrils closed. Lockley timed their periods underwater 

 and found that the seals often remained down for five or 

 six minutes. They took anything from twelve to twenty 

 breaths while on the surface. Sometimes they coincided 

 in their ascents and descents : sometimes they alternated 

 with each other. They slept soundly all the time. 



Most seals are gregarious, and are usually quite harm- 

 less, timid, even affectionate animals, although the old 

 males will sometimes fight each other ferociously. They 

 are greatly attached to their young ones. They have all 

 their five senses remarkably well developed, and a sense 

 of balance far more sensitive than most other animals, or 

 even man himself They have a rudimentary speech 

 sense, and can express themselves in various ways, vary- 

 ing from harsh grunts and barks to plaintive bleats. They 

 are strongly attracted by musical sounds. 



Probably no other animal, with the solitary exception 

 of the dog, shows such aflfection towards man, or is so 

 easily trained. They are the very opposite of sharks in 

 this respect. The Siebenalers did everything possible to 

 eliminate the deadly fear which almost paralysed their 

 sharks when they touched and caressed them. They were 

 using the only possible method of reassuring and taming 

 the animals. Birds feel fear when humans contact them ; 

 so do many other creatures. But such reluctance to make 

 friends can be overcome in all kinds of creatures by kind- 

 ness. With their sharks, the Siebenalers found it hopeless 

 — the fear gulf was far too wide to be bridged. 



Right at the opposite pole are the seals. They respond 

 so readily to aflfection and love to be petted and fondled. 

 Sometimes their affection for man can become embar- 

 rassing. This was instanced as recently as July 1957, at 

 British resorts around the Norfolk coast. 



During the warm weather which occurred in the early 

 days of that month, seals started coming ashore from the 



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