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SEALS. 423 
gentle and soft expression, and a pleasant countenance. He is not 
wanting in intelligence, and is capable of being tamed and even 
educated. A poor, unhappy seal may sometimes be seen in a 
menagerie, kept a prisoner in a tub, looking badly fed, sick, and 
pitiful; but the keeper will boast of its fine qualities, which consist, 
after all, in knowing the voice of the keeper and coming familiarly 
to take a fish or bit of bread when he offers it. 
The cry of the seal is soft and flute-like, and recalls certain 
sounds common to all languages, such as the syllables pa-pa, or 
ma-ma,; hence the credulous conclude that these animals have 
learned, or might ‘learn to speak. It is quite incredible that they 
can pronounce words—“ Cake,” “Coffee,” “ Bat’ Thankyou. 
and still more that they should say, “Vive le Roi,” “ Bonjour, 
monsieur,” “Je suis francais,” as a seal exhibited in Paris was 
declared to be able to do. 
Seals may be kept alive for many years, if they are fed with 
fresh fish, and allowed water enough to swim in. 
Some modern naturalists believe that it would not be impossible 
for man to subdue these agile animals completely, and make them 
useful. Frederick Cuvier says it is astonishing that fishermen 
have not trained seals to fish, just as the huntsman trains dogs for 
the chase. M. Babinet, recently, has dwelt upon the numerous 
‘services which seals might, with proper training, be taught to 
perform. He would like to see them even in our rivers. 
For many years, two seals have lived in the Zoological Gardens, 
at Amsterdam. They are kept in a large pond of salt water, and 
we are told that they have twice had young ones. They not only 
distinguish the voice of their keeper, but they hear afar the sound 
of his footsteps; and no sooner do they recognise his approach, 
than they utter joyful cries, and rush to meet him. An old 
man, accompanied by a little girl and a tiny French poodle, 
g 
often came to see these two seals, and brought them delicacies 
to eat. The seals would come out of the water, crawl to their 
friends, and sit down with them, and enjoy themselves on the 
sand. They would frolic about, play tricks, and share like 
brothers the fruit or cakes from the little girl’s basket. One day 
in the midst of these games, the dog missed his leap, and jumped 
over the seal’s head and fell into the pond. The poor dog 
