76 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF 



Shetland, the Seals had no apprehension in meeting 

 man." 



In the previous paragraph allusion is casually 

 made to the notion that these animals are not in- 

 different to the charms of music ; whilst we believe 

 it may be safely affirmed that this assertion is more 

 frequently made than credited. The statement, 

 however, appears to be perfectly correct ; and the 

 following quotations, the former from the celebrated 

 Orkney Naturalist, Low, and the latter from Mr 

 Dunbar just quoted, are sufficient to banish all scep- 

 ticism on the point. " If people are passing in 

 boats, the Seals often come close up to them, and 

 stare at them, following for a long time together ; 

 if people are speaking loud they seem to wonder 

 what may be the matter. The church of Hoy is 

 situated near a small sandy bay, much frequented 

 by these creatures ; and I observed, when the bell 

 rang for Divine service, all the Seals within hearing 

 swam directly for shore, and kept looking about 

 them, as if surprised rather than frightened, and in 

 this manner continued to wonder as long as the bell 

 rang."* And again, Mr Lizars' correspondent, 

 The fondness of these animals for musical sounds 

 is a curious peculiarity in their nature, and has been 

 to me often a subject of interest and amusement. 

 During a residence of some years in one of the 

 Hebrides, I had many opportunities of witnessing 

 this peculiarity ; and, in fact, could call forth its 



* Fauna Orcacensis. 



