COMMON SEAL. 207 



man, and their watchfulness preventing me from 

 getting- very near, I never had the luck to hit. But 

 I succeeded always in putting them in bodily fear, 

 and had my failure somewhat compensated by wit- 

 nessing the hurry scurry that immediately ensued ; 

 the unwieldy monsters floundering and waddling 

 in awkward haste to gain the edge, where the rock 

 was flat, and rolling down where there was a de- 

 clivity, tumbling like a sack of grain into the 

 water, and causing the whole Bay to resound with 

 the splashing." 



In the Northern Islands, considerable numbers 

 are annually killed, although their capture is not 

 there made a regular branch of industry. The 

 flesh is dark-coloured and rank, but that of young 

 individuals may be eaten ; the fat, which forms a 

 layer beneath the skin, affords oil of excellent 

 quality ; and the skins are used for covering trunks, 

 as well as for being manufactured into leather. It 

 is only in the arctic regions, however, that Seals 

 are obtained in quantities sufficient to render their 

 pursuit of importance ; and there they are of the 

 greatest value to the inhabitants, affording them 

 food, clothing, and light. 



The female brings forth her young in a cavern, 

 or among the rocks, where it remains concealed for 

 some days. According to the information which I 

 have received from the country people, only one is 

 produced at a birth, and generally in the middle of 

 summer. In form and habits, this species is very 

 nearly allied to the next, from which, however, it is 



