THE GREAT GREY SEAL 33 



being found on the northern coasts on both sides 

 of the Atlantic, and also on both sides of the 

 Pacific, and even makes its way down the coasts of 

 France and Spain into the Mediterranean, where it 

 is rare. A few years ago one appeared on the beach 

 at Brighton ! It may often be seen on the west coast 

 of Scotland, of Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall, where it 

 breeds in caves. Its hairy coat is silky, and has a 

 yellowish-grey tint spotted with black and dark grey, 

 most abundantly on the back. 



The Great Grey Seal does not occur in the Pacific, 

 but is limited to the northern shores on both sides of 

 the Atlantic, Its coat is of a more uniform greyish- 

 brown colour than that of the Common Seal, and when 

 dried by exposure to the sun has a silvery-grey sheen. 

 The Great Grey Seal is a good deal rarer on our coasts 

 than is the Common Seal. It is now limited to the 

 south, west, and north coasts of Ireland, to the great 

 islands on the West of Scotland, the Orkneys, the Shet- 

 lands, and some spots on the east coast of Scotland. 

 It is heard of as a rare visitor to the Lincolnshire 

 " Wash," the coasts of Norfolk, Cornwall, and Wales. 

 Some years ago (in 1883) I found a newly-born Grey 

 Seal on the shore of Pentargon Cove, near Boscastle, 

 North Cornwall. It appears that whilst (contrary to 

 the statements of some writers) the Common Seal 

 produces its young most usually in caves or rock- 

 shelters, the Great Grey Seal chooses a remote sand 

 island or deserted piece of open shore for its nursery. 

 i The Common Seal gives birth to its young — a single 

 i one or a pair — in June ; the Great Grey Seal about the 

 1st of September, While the young in both species is 

 clothed when born in a coat of long yellowish-white 

 1 hair, this coat is shed in the case of the Common Seal 



3 



