THE COMMON SEAL. 177 



for one of their number is usually placed a little higher 

 on the rock than the others, and he seems constantly 

 awake, and ever and anon upraises his "grim feature," 

 scenting the windward air. Flatfish, especially flounders, 

 are the favourite food of this species, at least off the coast 

 of Colonsay, where it is common. In the estuary of the 

 Tees it makes great havoc among the salmon. This 

 seal is hunted, as are others also, for the sake of its skin 

 and blubber. The fishing commences in autumn, and is 

 practised by means of nets stretched across narrow sounds 

 where the seals are in the habit of swimming. In these 

 nets they are entangled, but it is only the young that 

 can be thus captured ; the old ones are shot, or their 

 recesses and caves are entered at night by boatmen with 

 torches and bludgeons, upon which the animals, alarmed 

 by the glare and the shouts of the men, rush tumultuously 

 forward to sea, and, as they push along in confusion and 

 terror, they are knocked on the head with clubs, the 

 men being duly stationed for the purpose. 



The common seal can remain under water for about 

 five minutes, and swims so rapidly, that if alarmed it will 

 proceed nearly half a mile during that period. The seal 

 is intelligent and docile, and easily domesticated ; it be- 

 comes attached like a dog to its master, and may be 

 readily taught to assist in fishing. Many anecdotes re- 

 specting tamed seals are recorded. Few animals have a 

 finer sense of hearing, and musical sounds appear to 

 afford it great delight. Laing, in his account of a voyage 

 to Spitzbergen, slates that the violin, when played on 

 board the vessel, would generally draw around it a nu- 

 merous audience of seals, which would continue to follow 

 it for miles. Sir Walter Scott alludes to the same cu- 

 rious fact in the following lines : — 



" Rude Heiskar's seals through surges dark 

 Will long pursue the minstrel's bark." 



The common seal is from four to five feet in length ; 

 its colour is yellowish gray, more or less dappled and 

 spotted with dusky brown. (Figs. 117 and 118.) 



The seal is hunted in Scotland, but it is not the com- 



