112 



me tliat the sound of a flute will allure them to a boat; but in the 

 above instance it was merely the conse(][uence of uo gun being ever 

 lifted against them in that islet which has won tlieir confidence in 

 man." Nor is this characteristic less strikingly exemplified by an 

 observation made by Mr. Dunbar, the present incumbent of the parish 

 of Applegarth, during his residence at a former period in one of the 

 Hebrides. In a letter to Mr. Lizars, which appeared in the last volume 

 of the ISTatura lists' Library, we find the following statement: "While 

 my pupils and I were bathing, which we often did, in the bosom of a 

 beautiful bay in the island named, from the circumstance of its being 

 a favorite haunt of. the animal, Seal Bay, numbers of these creatures 

 invariably mauc their appearance, especially if the weather was calm 

 and sunny and the sea smooth, crowding around us at the distance of 

 a few yards, and looking as if they had some kind of notion that we 

 were of the same genus with themselves. The gambols in the water 

 of my i^layful companions and their noise and merriment seemed, to our 

 imagination, to excite them and to make them course round us with 

 greater rapidity and animation. At the same time the slightest attempt 

 on our part to act on the ottensive, by throwing at them a stone or 

 shell, was the signal for their instantaneous disappearance, each as it 

 vanished leaving tlie surface of the water beautifully figured with a 

 wavy succession of concentric circles." 



In the previous paragraph allnsion is casually made to the notion 

 that these animals are not indiflerent to the charms of music, whilst 

 we believe it may be safely affirmed that this assertion is more frequently 

 made than credited. The statement, however, appears to be perfectly 

 correct; and the following quotations, the former from the celebrated 

 Orkney naturlist. Law, and the latter irom Mr. Dunbar just quoted, 

 are sufticient to banish all skepticism on the point. "If people are 

 passing in boats the seals often come close up to them and stare at 

 them, following for a long time together; if people are speaking loud 

 they seem to wonder what may be the matter. The church of Hoy is 

 situated near a small sandy bay much frequented by these creatures, 

 and I ob^served when the bell rang for divine service all the seals 

 within hearing swam directly for shore, and kept looking about them, 

 as if surprised rather than frightened, and in this manner continued 

 to wonder as long as the bell rang." 



And again Mr. Lizars's corresi)ondent: "The fondness of these ani- 

 mals for nuisical sounds is a curious peculiarity in their nature, and 

 has been to me often a subject of interest and amusement. During a 

 residence of some years in one of the Hebrides I had nniny opportu- 

 nities of witnessing this peculiarity, and in fact could call forth its 

 manifestation at pleasure. In walking along the shore in the calm of 

 a summer afternoon a few notes of my flute would bring half a score 

 of them within 30 or 40 yards of me; and there they would swim about, 

 with their heads above water, like so many black dogs, evidently de- 

 lighted with the sounds. For half an hour, or, indeed, for any length 

 of time I chose, I could fix them on the si)ot; and when I moved along 

 the water edge they would follow me with eagerness, like the dol- 

 phins who, it is said, atteiuled Arion, as if anxious to proloug the 

 enjoyment. I have frequently witnessed the same effect when out on 

 a boat excursion. The sound of a flute or of a common fife blown by 

 one of the boatmen was no sooner heard than half a dozen would start 

 up within a few yards, wheeling round us as long as the music played, 

 and disappearing one after another when it ceased." 



