380 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



in the wintry sun, while hard-by stand the gaunt, upright 

 figures of the cormorants. 



This species, the great grey seal, is an immense 

 animal, the males being four times heavier than those of 

 the common seal (P/wca vitulind), which also breeds on 

 this coast, but at quite a different season, namely, in 

 June. Both kinds are found here throughout the year : 

 whereas in the Orkneys, Hebrides, and western isles of 

 Scotland, the grey seal appears to be of more oceanic 

 habit, chiefly coming inshore towards the breeding-season, 

 that is, in October. 



While shooting in the Outer Hebrides, we were told 

 that these great seals, "Atlantic bulls " as they are there 

 termed, would then be drawing in towards the rocks 

 whereon they breed. Naturally we were intensely inter- 

 ested and set out in October to a fishing-hamlet afar, to 

 make their acquaintance and, if possible, to secure a speci- 

 men. There were not many- — perhaps three pairs — but 

 it repaid all labour to watch such huge creatures in 

 British seas, and to hear their sonorous roar blending 

 with that of breaking surf. Having spied an enormous 

 bull ashore on tidal rocks some two miles away, I com- 

 menced an elaborate stalk, during which the seal, having 

 left the rocks, came up within one hundred yards of a 



boat wherein my brother J had stayed behind. 



Promptly J — ■ — placed a .303 bullet in the cranium of 

 Halicharus, which (such was my brother's luck), 1 instead 

 of sinking, as seals usually do, remained afloat till a bight 

 of rope had been passed round the flippers, when we towed 

 him ashore. 



This seal measured 10 feet 3 inches in length by 7 feet 

 in girth, and was estimated to weigh 45 stone. The 



1 Besides this seal, J — — also shot there a stag carrying sixteen points. 



