290 Observations on the Seal-Fishery of the Colony , 



of them at some length ; and all Naturalists, since the happy 

 resumption of Zoological studies in Europe, have related 

 extraordinary proofs of them. 



Our leader determined on attacking the position already 

 noticed. There was a good deal of skirmishing in our route, 

 and a slight disposition to dispute our progress. Our princi- 

 pal obstructions were the many thousand young seals and bird's 

 eggs which occupied the path-ways. The former, without 

 locomotion from their infant state, were, nevertheless, most 

 annoying. From their viviparous peculiarities, including a 

 mouthful of aculeated teeth, we were obliged to adopt much 

 precautionary stepping in order to avoid a painful contact. 

 The cry of the young seal is loud and piercing. It frequently 

 resembles that of a young lamb, and oftener that of an infant 

 child. When suddenly aroused from sleep the voice is sono- 

 rous, and the animal is in extreme agitation. They are 

 covered with a thick, black, shining hair, and are by no means 

 disagreeable to look at. 



Having at length completely hemmed in the besieged, we 

 commenced the attack on some few which had been placed as 

 a sort of out-post. There was a general buzz among the 

 main body. All became distraction. Their roar of terror 

 was enough " to split the ears of the groundlings." A vene- 

 rable looking male now exerted his voice to the utmost pitch 

 of command. Having restored silence, he worked himself up 

 to the height of impassioned eloquence. His attitudes cor- 

 responded with his language. Nor did he cease to address 

 the assembly till he fell down with exhaustion. There was 

 one general burst of apparent applause which followed, and 

 this was succeeded by a general attempt to escape. All quar- 

 ters were tried in which there was the least chance, but our 

 centre was an object which they sought to force with great 

 keenness. Here was the readiest outlet of escape; but here 

 we had planted our chief strength. The conflict was now ter- 

 rible. Every club was in action, and : every blow proved 

 fatal. Blood flowed in every direction";' eyes flew from their 

 sockets ; and many of the poor creatures which had climbed 

 the steeps, and whose carcases were nearly as large as fatted 

 oxen, rolled mortally wounded from precipice to precipice. 

 As the strokes of the club continued to play, the sides of the 

 rocks became dangerous from the blood which flowed, and 

 thus prevented a safe footing. But in spite of this and many 

 other obstacles, many of the seals made'their escape in a man- 

 ner surprisingly rapid, considering their apparent unfitness for 

 the labour. Naturalists describe the movements of the seals as 

 slow and painful. Cuiver also adds that the hind feet are of 

 use only in swimming; and Buffon, that they are unable to 

 climb rocks. Now, the instances which we witnessed on 





