400 DESCRIPTION. 



accounts very common ; in parts of that sea, indeed, 

 almost the only species of the Phocaccce. Though occa- 

 sionally met with in hays and inlets, it keeps for the most 

 part to the outermost islands of the Skiirgard, or to the 

 wide ocean beyond. It attains to a large size. M. Wil- 

 helm von Wris-ht assured me that he himself on one 

 occasion shot a specimen nine feet in length, and 

 weighing close upon five hundred pounds ; and I have 

 heard of others still larger. When fat, its blubber alone 

 is estimated at from two hundred to two hundred and fifty 

 pounds. Its. usual colour, as its name denotes, is grey, 

 but at times its skin has somewhat of a yellowish tinge. 

 It is believed to attain a considerable age — say twenty 

 years and upwards. According to Cneiff, it sheds its hair 

 in the spring, and to facilitate the operation, rubs itself 

 against the edge of the ice, or against a stone, should the 

 ice have disappeared. Even should it somewhat resemble 

 the Common Seal in size and colour, as is at times the 

 case, it may always be readily distinguished from the 

 latter by the greater length of its claws and the superior 

 breadth of its muzzle. 



The Grey Seal pairs about midsummer, and usually 

 on an isolated rock far from the shore. Towards the end 

 of Pebruary the female brings forth her young — always 

 a single one — on the ice, and often during the most 

 intense cold. The cub when born is, like the Marbled 

 Seal, covered with a sort of wool, which for eight days 

 afterwards is quite white ; hut subsequently, and by 

 degrees, it puts on its proper dress. The first change 

 observable is in the head and fore legs, Avhich after a 

 fortnight become blackish-grey. The cub, until some 

 time subsequent to its birth, will not venture into the 

 water, but remains on the ice, where, when hungry, it, 

 by its cries, makes its wants known to its dam, who then 

 proceeds to the spot and suckles it ; and should danger 



