THE CRESTED SEAL. 



been mention.-d. the nostrils are not placed at the extremity of the mu/y.lc. hut U|N,U each side 

 of il, and are coiis,,|uenll\ prot.-ct.-d l.\ the <.\ crhaiiirim; head. 



It has oft. -a hap]-ned that when tin- Seal hunters have IH-.-H engaged in the pursuit of 

 their prey, they have laid several of tin-*, animal- to all ap|>eanmcc senseless on the ground, 

 auaiting ihe strike i. f the knife that -hall complete tin- \ ictory . Tin- :initiials. however, are 

 1-iit slightly stunned, ami recovering from their t-nij>oniry swoon, return to the conflict with 

 such uiic\|.e-ti-d ein-!x'\ iliat ili. ir a-siilant.s are forci-d to have recourse t<i siiniinary measures 

 u h.-ii n_::i_''''l in tlii- chase ( \ h' creatUMI 



Tin- OHM-! of an enraged ('rest.-d Seal is much to be dreaded, for tin- cn-ature id marvel- 

 lously tit-iv.- when its aiiirer is mused, and its strength is \.-r\ considerable. The twth, too, 

 an- fonnidal>l\ \*< \\i-rful. and can inflict very danp'rons wounds. In ti^htiiu;, th-y can IIM 

 tlit-ir claws a.s well as th. ir t--th. Tin- males arc always ])iipinctous aiiimals, and during the 

 .S.MS..U \\ht-n th.-y dnNisi- their mates are in the habit of H^itint: de>jnT.it-ly among each other 

 fur the pows-sioii of some attnicti\e fi-male, and in thes coml>ats inflict wvert* luotrutions. 

 During thes*' conflicts tlu> two omlutants .-\|,|,-- tlieir nuitiial rap- l>\ emitting a torrent of 

 loud, pawtionatf, yellini: screams, which are audible at a coiisideral)le distance. 



It is a jMilviramoiis animal, one male ruling over a small herd of wives. 



The fur of this animal is of some value, and great numlnrs of these -kin- are annually 

 imported into KUII>IN-. \\hen- they are ustnl for various purpose*. To the Ureenlander this 

 S-.il is of incalculable value, as he makes use of almost .-v.-ry jMirtiou of it botly as well as of 

 its skin, of the fur he makes his thick, oohl-resisting costume, and with the nkin he covers 

 those wonderful little boats in which lie braves the fun of the (Mttm in Miin'h of ':.-..],::. 

 quarry. Of the stomach h<> makes air buoys, which he fastens to his lunces, and which indi- 

 cate tin- ]Misition of any Seal or other animal that he may strike, and also nerve to tire the 

 \\ounded prey, and enable the hunter to repeat his blow. Even the teeth are pressed into his 

 nice, a IP I an- ' i i JLS convenient heads for hi- s^-ars. 



In the preparation of the Seal skin for civilized nations it is needful to remove the long 

 coarse hairs, and to leave only the soft woolly fur adherent to the skin. The process la very 

 simple. coiiM-tini: in heating the skin, and then scraping it while hot with a wooden knife. 



The color of this creature's fur is, when adult, a dark blue-black upon the Inu-k. failing to 

 a yellowish-white on the under portions of the body. A number of large gray patches are 

 irregularly scattered over the body, and in the centre of each patch there is a dark spot. The 

 head, the tail, and the feet, are black. In the young animal the colors are not of the same cast, 

 being during the first year of a slate-gray ujxm the back and silvery -white below, darkening in 

 th.- -,-, ,.n.l \.-ar in a l>i"uni-!i _'i:i\ :i|..n_' tin- -pin.-. 



It is a moderately large animal, being from ten to twelve feet in length when adult, and 

 stout in proportion. 



The Crested Seal is found spread over the coasts of Southern Greenland, and is in the 

 habit of reposing much upon ice islands, caring conijwnitively little for ordinary hind. It 

 also frequents the shores of Northern America. From September to March it is found in 

 Davis'- Stmits. l.ut leaves that locality for the purpose of producing and rearing its young, 

 and returns again in June, together with its offspring, in a very bare and poor condit ion. About 

 .July it takes another excursion, and employs its time in recovering the health and strength 

 which it had lost during the period of its former absence, so that in September it is very fat, 

 and altogether in excellent condition. 



By the native (Jn-enlanders it is termed " Neitsersoak." 



The natives of the localities which are inhabited by this animal are in the habit of 

 employing two methods for their rapture, the one being only a question of patience between 

 the man and the Seal, and the other a fair measurement of human reason against sealish 

 sagacity ; the former generally, but not always, proving the superior. The two modes are as 

 follows : 



The Seals are in the habit of making, or pre--r\ in:: in some way. certain round holes in the 

 ice, which communicate with the water, and which serve them as doors through which they 

 can enter or leave the water without being forced to crawl to the edge of the ice-field. It 



