78 HABITS AND DISPOSITIONS OF THE 



ful. " Where a number are collected on the same 

 piece of ice, one if not more is always looking 

 round ; and even a solitary Seal is scarcely ever 

 observed to allow a moment to pass without lifting 

 *ts head. He adds, where Seals rest on an exten- 

 sive sheet of ice, they always secure their retreat 

 either by lying near the edge, or by keeping a 

 hole in the ice always open before them. These 

 precautions are necessary to prevent them becoming 

 a prey to the Bear. The old animals are in ge- 

 neral shy ; so that, when thousands are seen within 

 the compass of a square furlong, on the approach of 

 a boat, the whole will perhaps make their escape. 

 The young ones are less guarded, and when met 

 with at the proper season, may sometimes be killed 

 by the dozen at a time, on a small flake of ice."* 



But not only do these Amphibia quickly learn the 

 most watchful circumspection ; it is moreover true, 

 that, when surprised by man, and forced to engage 

 in actual combat, though never the aggressors, many 

 of them, for it is quite the reverse with others, show 

 the coolest and most determined courage. This is 

 amply illustrated in the following pages, and espe- 

 cially with regard to the Sea- Horse. To excite 

 attention merely to the point, we shall here in- 

 troduce a sketch from the great painter of Nature 

 of our time, who probably narrated only what had 

 actually come within his cognisance. " The Seal, 

 finding her retreat intercepted by the light-footed 

 soldier, confronted him manfully, and having 

 Loc. cit. 511. 



