OF THE SCOTTISH COASTS. 135 



fore feet, and moaning piteously. I am uncertain 

 whether this singular predilection for the fire* side, in 

 an animal whose natural element is the sea, was the 

 effect of illness, or arose from the pleasure which 

 these animals always seem to have in basking in 

 warm sunshine." 



The Ph. vitulina, as will appear from what has 

 already been said, is generally understood to have 

 a wide distribution. At no distant period they 

 were regarded as not uncommon around the 

 British shores. As, however, they are extremely 

 shy, they almost invariably leave those districts 

 which are crowded with population, and retire to 

 spots where they are little disturbed. The Isle of 

 Wight, many years ago, was famous for the num- 

 ber of its Seals ; and the remark has more recently 

 been made, " That about the Land's-end, and in 

 Cornwall, they are perhaps more numerous than in 

 any other of the coasts of S. Britain, unless it be 

 in some parts of S. Wales. They are found more 

 rarely off Cumberland and Lancashire, also off 

 Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire, but in 

 general they are rarely observed off the counties 

 south of these."* 



This Seal still frequents the estuary of the Tees, 

 and may be seen in small herds basking on the 

 sand-banks at low water: they emigrate to and 

 from this locality, and are much more abundant 

 in some years than others. These animals commit 



Bingley's British Quadrupeds, p. 57. 



