DOCILITY OF THE 8EM.. 407 



e\en nitm iiii: to .-I,-,-], through an open window, and to gain aooem to the worm fireside. 

 Ill- end of this poor creature was * sadly tragic one, and need not IM- narrated here. 



In tin- s;ime \\nrk is a MTV spirited account of another Seal adventure, in whirh the 

 ludicrous element pirvails, although it might have furnished material for tragedy. 



A numU-r of rn.-ii had gone in a boat to the Sound of Arhil, and having seen a Seal and 

 )> r \" ; |>sing on the sand, had borrowed un old musket, and set off to attack them. 



The\ sucre.-ded iii securing the rub l>efore it roil Id rearh the sea, and tossed it into their boat. 

 'I'll.- mother Seal, however, inspired by maternal love, swam after the l>oat whirh contained 

 h*r olTsprinir. and roiilil not l>e deterred from following the raptors in the hope of rescuing her 

 child. Tin- nifii attempted several times to shoot the jxmr rreature, but their rickety weapon 

 oii!d not explode until it had been several times finitely snaj>]>ed. At last, however, it per- 

 formed it- duty, and lodged the ball in the Sea I'd head. 



The Ixtdy was immediately lifted into the l>oat, when, to the horror of the raptors, the 

 animal, which was only -t mined, recovered its senses, and began a most furious attack ii|K>n its 

 floundering about the boat with such energy that she nearly overset it, and snapping 



SKELETON AMD TEETH OP OOkMON SEAL 



fiercely at the legs of her antagonists. The contest soon assumed a serious aspect, for the 

 teeth of the angry animal were urged with such fury that they cut deeply into the oars with 

 which her attacks were warded off, and if assistanre had not speedily arrived, the result might 

 have been of a very tragic nature. A gentleman, however, that happened to be sailing near 

 the scene of combat, was attracted by the curious sj>ectacle of a Ixjat's crew engaged in such 

 strange evolutions, and directing his course towards them, endfd the combat by a rifle bullet. 



Of late days, performing Seals have come into vogue under various titles, among which 

 the "Talking Fish " is well known. These clever animals have been taught to jierfonu sundry 

 ingenious feats, requiring not only an intelligent mind to comprehend, but an activity of body 

 to execute, apparently incompatible with the conformation of the animal. 



They will bark at the word of command, their phocine tongue Iteing very freely translated 

 into the language of any country in which they may happen to be ; they will rotate in their 

 water tuli with singular velocity ; they will offer to kiss any one who is not afraid of their 

 large w.-t hairy mouth, and in fine will go through many similar ix-rformanres with great skill 

 and seeming enjoyment of the attention paid to them by their visitors. For they are wonder- 

 fully fond of admiration, these Seals, and although very shy to those with whom they are 

 unacquainted, and In-fore they have tierome accustomed to the sj^ht of strangers, are highly 

 appreciative of the kind words and caresses which fall to their lot while they are going through 

 their tricks. 



Even the Seals at the Zoological Gardens, who are not put through any particular training, 

 are not without their little coquetries with iv^inl to the i-ver-chan-in- circle of visitors who 

 Stand around the railings which inclose their habitation*., while their demonstrations of affec- 

 tion towards the keeper who attends to Aeir wants are quite lively. They recognize him at a 

 considerable distance, and shooting rapidly through the water, fling themselves upon the bank, 

 scuttle to the iron fence and rear themselves against the rails in impatient greetings, long 



