HABITS. 703 



young of the Tapvaist or great seal .... is invariably 

 whelped above water-mark, and, it is said, during spring tides. 

 They remain in a helpless condition on the rocks, for several 

 weeks, before they can swim, and during this time they cast 

 most of their long hair." * 



A much earlier account, relating to this locality and species, 

 has been given by Martin in his " Description of the Western 

 Islands of Scotland," published in 1716. "On the western 

 coast of this island [Harris] lies the rock Eousmil, about a 

 quarter of a mile in circumference, and is still famous for the 

 yearly fishing of seals there, in the end of October. This rock 



belongs to the farmers of the next adjacent lands 



These farmers man their boats with a competent number fit for 

 the business, and they always embark with a contrary wind, 

 for their security against being driven away by the ocean, and 

 likewise to prevent them from being discovered by the seals, 

 who are apt to smell the scent of them, and presently run to 

 sea. When this crew is quietly landed, they surround the 

 passes, and then the signal for the general attack is given from 

 the boat, and so they beat them down with big staves. The 

 seals at this onset make towards the sea with all speed, and 

 often force their passage over the necks of the stoutest assail- 

 ants, who aim always at the forehead of the seals, giving 

 many blows before they are killed; and if they are not hit 

 exactly on the front, they contract a lump on their forehead, 

 which makes them look very fiercest and if they get hold of 

 the staff with their teeth, they carry it along to sea with them. 

 Those that are in the boat shoot at them as they run to sea, 

 but few are catched that way. The natives told me that sev- 

 eral of the biggest seals lose their lives by endeavouring to save 

 their young ones, whom they tumble before them towards the 

 sea. I was told, also, that three hundred and twenty seals, 

 young and old, have been killed at one time in this place. The 

 reason for attacking them in October is, because in the begin- 

 ning of this month the seals bring forth their young on the 

 ocean side ; but these on the east side, who are of lesser stature 

 [Phoca vitulina, probably], bring forth their young in the mid- 

 dle of June." | 



* Mag. Zool. and Botany, vol. i, 1637, pp. 540, 541. 



t This seems to point to the Hooded Seal as being possibly involved in the 

 account here quoted, although it evidently relates mainly to the Gray Seal. 

 t Pinkertou's Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. Hi, pp. 594, 595. 



