with Remarks on Dyer's Islands, 8fc. 291 



Dyer's Island, were in all things the reverse. They crawl or 

 jump away with great progress, and without any diffi- 

 culty, on a pair of fore-fin-like feet, called by the sealers 

 flippers. These are of singular conformation, composed of 

 connecting webs which chieily assist in swimming. But it is 

 the tail to which it is principally indebted while on shore. 

 The lobes of this, in some degree, answer the purpose of a 

 pair of hind feet, and consist of strong muscles and tendons, 

 without any internal joints or bones; and these affoi'd an ad- 

 mirable propelling utility. 



Many of the seals, on effecting an escape, turned about and 

 discovered a disposition to retaliate. They grinned horribly, and 

 shewed their teeth, — of a pointed, cutting character. As the 

 fallen now formed a mighty heap, it was considered prudent to 

 suspend the work of destruction, to examine the killed and 

 wounded, and commence the operation of skinning. On a 

 nearer approach, many which had been supposed dead, ex- 

 hibited signs of motion. The seals cling to life with great 

 pertinacity. In skinning, the sealers take only a portion, 

 and it is chiefly the back part of the animal that is selected. 

 While engaged in this work, it often occurred that when the 

 skin was taken off the supposed corpse would rise up, and, 

 .with a tremendous bellow, pour out its last gasp. In one 

 instance, a sealer had completely disrobed a mighty carcase, 

 and with his long knife had presumed on a correct passage to 

 the heart. Whilst contemplating the fine streaked appear- 

 ance of the naked body, the animal suddenly started into 

 active life, and tore the knife from the man's hand. Even 

 detached pieces of flesh from various seals discovered a tena- 

 ciousness of the vivific principle in a high degree ; and, how- 

 ever much these were multiplied, the galvanic influence was 

 by no means abated*. The intestines of the Phocae we in- 

 variably found empty — a small portion of gravel or sand 



* May not this phenomena be accounted for on the principle that simple 

 life survives sensation, in proportion to the destruction of the nervous sys- 

 tem—when the death has been violent, and the head of the animal much 

 beaten? Now, the head of the seal is the principle object of attack. That 

 part of the body being highly susceptible of injury. It may be illustrated 

 from the curious fact, that, when a fish, instantly afteF being taken out of 

 the water, is killed by a violent blow on the head, by which the skull is 

 fractured, the irritability and flexibility of the muscles are preserved much 

 longer than they would have been if it had been allowed to die with the 

 organ of sensation in an entire stale. Salmon is one of the fishes the least 

 tenacious of life; insomuch that, after having been taken oufof the water, 

 it will cease, in less than half an hour, to manifest any signs of vitality, pro* 

 vided it be not exposed to any violence. But if, on the 6th<?r hand, it 

 receives, as soon as it is caught, a violent blow on the head, the muscles 

 will continue for the space of 12 hours to exhibit visible signs of irritability. 

 The fishermen of Solway Frith are so aware of this fact, that, in order to 

 turn it to account, they take care to have recourse to the above practice 

 with a view to render the fishes they catch susceptible, for a longer time, 

 to the operation called crimpiiuj. 



