AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA. 77 



manifestation at pleasure. In walking along the 

 shore in the calm of a summer afternoon, a few 

 notes of my flute would bring half a score of them 

 within thirty or forty yards of me ; and there they 

 would swim about, with their heads above water, 

 like so many black dogs, evidently delighted with 

 the sounds. For half an hour, or, indeed, for any 

 length of time I chose, I could fix them to the spot ; 

 and when I moved along the water edge, they would 

 follow me with eagerness, like the Dolphins who, it 

 is said, attended Arion, as if anxious to prolong 

 the enjoyment. I have frequently witnessed the 

 same effect when out on a boat excursion. The 

 sound of the flute, or of a common fife, blown by 

 one of the boatmen, was no sqoner heard, than half 

 a dozen would start up within a few yards, wheeling 

 round us as long as the music played, and disap- 

 pearing, one after another, when it ceased."* 



But, however much these Amphibia may natur- 

 ally feel disposed to repose confidence in man, yet, 

 if exposed to bad treatment, they soon acquire the 

 habit of suspecting and shunning him, and of coun- 

 teracting the danger resulting from his wiles. Their 

 thus learning caution from experience will be 

 frequently illustrated in the sequel; while in 

 other instances it would appear that their watch- 

 fulness, if not a natural instinct, is a precaution 

 which has become perfectly habitual to them. 

 Denis says, the Seals in landing always place a sen- 

 tinel ; and Scoresby states, they are extremely watch- 



Nat. Lib. vii. p. 204. 



