RECREATIVE NATURAL HISTORY. 



likewi- :.g it* body with considerable force 



. .ill ulii.-h tin- hpu:i- i- pi- 

 .-. iiirh iri ul-o of grout mi, 



swimming. l.iLf tin- u liiili-, tin- -i-.il can iviiiiiin iin.inr water 

 for a lfiij,'tli <>f tinio without Mill. 



its noKtrils ;uil oara are pr-v ;.:.- I with \alvcs which can be 



a will pruviouit to it<* sub-aqueous journeys. The long 



stitV h.iir- -.\itli which the upper lip is im in hod are regarded an 



.iflii'uto i/i>'. ii: ct' t..u'-ii. It has largo lustrous eyes, and an 



-ion of fooo which would lead one to suppose, what 



-. to be the case, that tho seal is a gentle, affectionate, 



uui intelligent creature. Of its intelligence there are many 



'1 proofs, showing that where it baa been reared in a 



tame state it has been taught tricks which appear marvellous 



uhfii port'ormod by a dumb animal not understanding articulate 



It lias a large brain. 



morsel* that no living befog ootUd ditfent, viz., the psbbl** from 

 the seashore ; and the reason that ha* been itsigntd for thu 

 in the rather curiou* 000 that the ami* require a load of stna** 

 a* ballut. If they really partake of the* pbbl it would 

 appear not improbable that it U done in UM floors* of hasty 

 meals token olow to the beach, and it may f ortbr happen that 

 the pebble* tbiu accidentally token into the stomach MTV* by 

 ii M a masticatory mill for grinding up UM food which 

 has been wallowed whole, rather than M ballut for *H>g 

 purposes. Teeth it ha* both chisel-like incisor*, **n'mt. and 

 molars or grinders, but their form ran** considerably in dif- 

 ferent kinds of seal, and they appear to be adapted more for 

 holding their slippery prey than for cutting or crushing 

 them up. 



There are many different genera of seal*, each including one 

 or more species, but we shall here describe only a few of the 



\VAi.i:rsi:s. 



It is not given to every one to pee the seal in its native 

 element, free to move in graceful fashion wherever it will. Wo 

 have therefore to rest content with watching the single speci- 

 men usually exhibited in each of our marine aquaria, where its 

 hollow bark resounds from the roof. How it darts through the 

 water, dives down or springs up with equal ease ! If it be 

 feeding-time it is interesting to watch the keeper pitch it fish 

 one by one, which it gobbles up in less time than it takes one 

 to tell, even springing half-way out of the water to catch 

 them, managing the feat with as much grace and precision as 

 that shown by a cricketer rising to catch a ball. The quantity 

 of fish it will take in this way is something surprising, and 

 gives one an idea of the clever fisher it must be when roaming 

 in tho sea supplying its own wants. A hundred sillock, or 

 young of the coal-fish, would hardly be a full meal for one of 

 these hearty beasts. Perhaps we ought to coll them gluttons, 

 because of the quantity they eat and the manner they take it ; 

 for they often swallow their prey whole, without ever taking 

 the trouble to chew it, and if this cannot be managed they are 

 content with tearing it with teeth and nails into portions of 

 such a size that there will be no need for mastication. It is 

 even accused of the ostrich-like habit of swallowing inorganic 



more prominent species, using the common name by which 

 each is generally known. The Common Seal, which inhabit* 

 the northern seas and tho coast* of England and France, *U 

 found most frequently, according to Pennant, near tho 

 coast between I.lyn, in Caernarvonshire, and the northern part* 

 of Anglesea. Pennant further remark* that "the Latin name 

 of this amphibious animal is Phoca, the vulgar name i* t*w- 

 calf : and on that account the male i* called the boll and the 

 female the cow. But the Celtic appellative is Jforfrfcow, from 

 the word moel, ' bald,' or ' without ear* ;' and rfcow, ' spear* or 

 ' lance.' " They lodge in hollow rook* or cavern* on the *hore. 

 but out of reach of the tide, and at other times are bn*y 

 in their native element, swimming and diving, ever with an 

 eye to the game they love. 



When ab've and dry its hair is of a pale whitish en 

 the slightest tinge of yellow, and marbled on the back with 

 blackish srrey ; nearly white on the under-snrface, and pale grey 

 on the rides of the body, and around the eye* and morale. 



The Greenland Seal, which i* rarely seen in Britain, and 

 commonly in Arctic regions, ha* a hide which i* freer from 

 wool than many other species. Each individual hair i* flat and 

 lustrous. During the time the young are approaching toward* 



