158 GREENLAND SEAL. 



hair is flat and glistening. His account of the 

 marking coincides generally with the preceding ; he 

 says the bands and spots become more and more 

 dark with age. 



Fabricius states that in Greenland this species 

 occurs in great numbers, in the deep bays and 

 mouths of rivers. Twice a year the herds leave the 

 coast ; first in March, returning in May ; and again 

 in June, reappearing in September. They bring 

 forth their young in spring, having one, or rarely 

 two, at a birth, which they suckle on fragments of 

 ice far from shore. They never ascend the fixed 

 ice, but live and sleep near the floating islands in 

 vast herds. Among these islands they are some- 

 times seen swimming in great numbers, having one 

 for their leader, who seems to act as sentinel for 

 Jie security of the whole. They devour all the 

 more common kinds of fish, having a preference for 

 the arctic salmon, and not refusing shell-fish. When 

 engaged in feeding, and one comes to the sur- 

 face to breathe, he raises his head only above 

 water, and without changing his place quickly dives 

 again. They seldom appear solitary upon the wave, 

 principally swimming and fishing underneath, occa- 

 sionally raising their heads when devouring larger 

 prey. They swim in a variety of ways ; sometimes 

 on their back, often on their sides, occasionally 

 whirling about as if to amuse themselves. They 

 frequently sleep on the surface of the water, and, 

 upon the whole, are regarded incautious, especially 

 upon the ice. 



