190 MONK SEAL. 



The White-bellied Seal, says Buffon, we saw 

 alive in the month of December 1778. Its aspect 

 is mild, and its disposition not fierce ; its eyes are 

 quick and indicate intelligence, or, at all events, they 

 express the sentiments of affection and attachment 

 to its master, whom it obeys with the utmost readi- 

 ness, At his order we have seen it lay down its 

 head, turn in various directions, roll round and 

 round, raise the fore-part of its body quite erect in 

 its trough, and shake hands with him. It responded 

 to his voice and signs by a hoarse sound, which 

 seemed to proceed from the lower part of the throat, 

 and which might be compared to the hoarse bellow- 

 ing of a young bull ; it appeared the animal produced 

 this sound both in inspiration and expiration, but it 

 was clearer during the former, and rougher during 

 the latter. Previous to being tamed, it bit its master 

 furiously when interfered with, but when subdued, 

 it became quite mild, so that it might be handled 

 with all freedom. You might thrust the hand into its 

 mouth, and rest your head on that of the Seal. When 

 its master called, it answered, however distant he 

 might be ; it looked round for him when it did not 

 see him, and on discovering him after an absence 

 of a few minutes, never failed to testify joy by a 

 loud murmur. Some of its accents were sweet and 

 expressive, and seemed the language of pleasure and 

 delight. 



But, though its natural disposition was mild, yet, 

 from causes probably connected with its confinement, 



