GREAT SEAL. 153 



gled more than twenty-five minutes without ever 

 performing a single respiration, and when brought 

 to the surface was still alive/'* 



Fabricius states that this species frequents the 

 high seas round Greenland, especially delighting in 

 the floating fragments of ice ; that it resorts to land 

 principally in the spring time, and is then found 

 among the retired islets. Giesecke says it is seldom 

 met with on the coasts of West Greenland. In 

 these quarters it is regarded both timid and incau- 

 tious ; and the older ones are remarked to swim 

 but slowly. It is highly esteemed by the Green- 

 landers. Though it does not yield much oil, yet 

 its lard is deemed " most delicious." The flesh has 

 also been stated by Pennant to be as white as veal, 

 and hence it is regarded as the most delicate of 

 any. 



We may here introduce the few observations contained in the 

 manuscript so often alluded to, concerning the third variety of 

 the Western Islands, in the hope that further attention will be 

 directed to the subject. 



* The Bodach, or old man, is by much the least of all the 

 Seals with which I am acquainted ; and, indeed, so small, that 

 for a long time I entertained the idea (contrary to the firm opi- 

 nion of the natives) that it was the young of the Common Seal. 

 This view, however, I consider to be erroneous, for they are not 

 even the size of a Seal three months old of the common kind. 

 Besides, they are frequently killed of this size with grey beards 

 and decayed teeth. 1 have frequently noticed that when on shore, 

 on the same rock with other Seals, they do not lie near them, 

 but a little way apart. They are but few in number, and I can- 

 not recollect of seeing any two of them together. They arc not, 

 however, at all so shy as the Common Seal, nor so solitary as the 

 Tapvaist." 



Loc. cit. 295. 



