THE HARP SEAL. 34I 



struck up a great friendship with two little dogs, and would allow their 

 little playfellows to take all kinds of liberties with them, permitting the 

 dogs to sit on their backs and bark, and not even resenting an occasional 

 6ite. They would even permit the dogs to take their food from their 

 mouths; but if any of the seal-tribe attempted to act in like manner, a 

 sharp combat immediately took place, the weaker being forced ulti- 

 mately to succumb to superior might. In cold weather, dogs and seals 

 were accustomed to huddle closely together for the sake of warmth, and 

 when the dogs made their way out of the entrance, the seals did their 

 best to follow their little playfellows, caring nothing for the rough 

 ground over which they were forced to pass. This Seal stands in great 

 dread of other species of Seal, such as the Sea Lion and Sea Bear, and 

 according to many accounts holds the spermaceti whale in awe, being 

 chased by that formidable creature into the shallow waters of the shore. 

 Twice in the year the Harp Seal indulges in a migration similar to that 

 of the Sea Leopard. The young of this species are sometimes two in 

 number, although the maternal Seal is often forced to content herself 

 with a single child. 



IV.— GENUS HALICYON. 



The two species mentioned by Gray are probably identical, and we 

 may regard them as the sole representative of the genus. 



Richard's Seal, Halicyon Rkliardsii, the best known species, is found 

 on the Californian and Oregon coasts. 



v.— GENUS PHOCA. 



Of the three species of this genus we need mention only one. 



The Bearded Seal, Phoca barbata, is so called from its long mus- 

 taches ; from its size, it has also obtained the name of the Great Seal. 

 It attains a length of about fifteen feet, is of a dark-brown color, with 

 short stiff hair, and fiequents lonely and sequestered places. The Esqui- 

 maux say its blubber has a very delicate taste, and its skin is used for 

 their harpoon lines. 



The other species are found in the North Pacific, and in Japanese 

 waters. 



Gray's sub-family Halich^rina contains only one genus, of one 

 species. 



