202 CRESTED SEAL. 



neath, dark in the old, and grey in the young, co- 

 vered with irregular brown spots." 



Of the habitat of the Cristata, it is stated by Fa- 

 bricius that it is found only on the southern parts of 

 Greenland, and that it delights in the high seas ; 

 visiting the land chiefly in April, May, and June. 

 According to Crantz, they are found mostly on great 

 ice islands, where they sleep in an unguarded man- 

 ner. They are found in great numbers in Davis* 

 Straits, where they regularly make two voyages a 

 year, and remain from the month of September to 

 the month of March. They then depart to bring 

 forth their young, and return with them in the 

 month of June, when they are very lean and ex- 

 nausted. They set off a second time in July, and 

 proceed to the n%rth, where they probably find plen- 

 ty of nourishment, as they return in excellent con- 

 dition in September- They also frequent the north- 

 ern shores of America.* 



Regarding its habits and dispositions, Fabricius 

 says, " It is polygamous, and has its young usually 

 on the ice. It bites hard, and barks and whines 

 like a dog : it grows fierce on being wounded ; but 

 will weep on being surprised by the hunter, shed- 

 ding tears abundantly. They fight furiously among 

 themselves, inflicting deep wounds with their claws 

 and teeth." 



Sir Charles Giesecke remarks that this animal 

 grows to the length of ten or twelve feet ; which 



In the history of voyages, according to Desmarest. 



