180 



SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



and rocks, in parties of twelve or fourteen, or perhaps 

 more. No doubt, like the common seal, it is often seen 

 alone. 



The Harp-Seal {PJioca Groenlandica). 



The native regions of this seal are the shores of Green- 

 land, Newfoundland, Iceland, Kamtchatka, &c. It is one 

 of the species in the chase of which the Greenlander en- 

 counters so many perils. Crantz, in his History of Green- 

 land, states that it is there called Attarsoak. " It has a 

 pointed head and big body, and is, when full-grown, 

 nearly three yards long; it is then almost all of a white- 

 gray colour, and has a black figure on its back like two 

 half-moons, with their horns in a uniform direction 

 tov/ards one another. But there are others somewhat 



119.— Harp-Seal. 



blackish all over. (Fig. 119.) All seals vary annually in 

 colour till they are full grown, but no sort so much as 

 this ; and the Greenlanders vary its name according to its 

 age. In the first year it is called Attarak, and is of a 

 cream colour : in the second year, Atteisiak ; it is then 

 gray: in the third year, Aglektok; it is then painted: 

 in the fourth year it is Milektok ; spotted : in the fiith 



