THE HARP SEAL. 1 " 



In the first ft-w months of it> existence, tin- fur of the Harp S-al is white in i-<l>r and woolly 

 hi textuie. At tin- expiration of a year the white i IIIIIIJMII In ji.inj lull niMin In the second 

 y-.ir. tin- fur i> entiivh gra\. In tin- thinl year, tin- gray is diversified with stri|esof darker 

 hues, anil \ar\ing in numl>ei, dimensions, and ]M)sitimi. The fourth \e.ir changes tin- >trijws 

 into spots, and in the fifth \.-ar. tin- semi lunar black -ti i| nuke their appearance. 



Tli-- (ireeiilaiiders designate the Harp Seal by different ti ties accord i UK toita years; giving 

 it the name of Atak, or Attarak. in its first year, Atteisiak in the second, Agletok In the thinl, 

 Milektok in the fourth, and Attarsoak in the fifth. 



The Harp Seal is found in great numbers upon the coasts of Greenland, Ireland, and othei 

 l(xiilities, and is nit her peculiar in its mode of life. It does not much aff-ct the shore after 

 the fashion of many Seals, but prefers to take up its residence upon floating ice- islands, dis- 

 regarding even the more solid fields of ire that are so much frequented by other animals 

 In-loii-im: to the same family. It is found in considerable numbers, congregating together in 

 herds under the leadership of a single chief, and constantly subject to his authority. 



There is always a sentinel planted by every herd, whose duty lies in looking out for 

 danger, and i;i\in^ tim.-lv \\arnim; to the remainder of the herd. The Harp Se ;( | se,-ius withal 

 to IM- rather a reckless \-inz. in spite of this precaution, for it is easily approached by a cau- 

 tious hunter, and ran be destroyed with little difficulty. Sometimes it prefers to takes its 

 \\itiiMiit trusting it>elf iij..,i, j, . ,,| ] : in,|. :ui<l -.|e.-|,- '.\liile il,,:iim_- ,.n ill.- surface "f the 

 In this situation its .slumU-rs are HO profound that it has often l>een surprised and slain 

 In-fore it has awoke from its treacherous somnolence. The Harp Seal is moderate in size, 

 being generally about seven or eight feet in length and proportionably stout. Some very large 

 sjwcimi'iis. houevej. are said to reach the length of nine feet. 



It is an extremely valuable animal I)oth to Europe in general, and to the uncivilized inhab- 

 itants of Greenland. In this country we value the Harp Seal principally on account of the 

 excellent oil \\hidi it furnishes, and which is allowed to be of a purer and better character 

 than that which is obtained from other oil-producing animals. The creature is remarkably 

 well furnished with the fatty substance from which the oil is obtained, and is therefore eagerly 

 pursued, irrespective of the value which is set upon the fur. 



The food of this animal is almost wholly of an animal nature, and consiste chiefly of 

 salmon and other fish, together with various mollusks and crustaceans. It, however, stands in 

 great dread of other species of Seal, such as the Sea Lion and Sea Bear, and according to many 

 accounts holds the spermaceti whale in awe, U-ing chased by that formidable creature into the 

 shallow waters of the shore. Twice in the year the Harp Seal indulges in a migration similar 

 to that which has already been described when treating of the Sea Leopard. The young of this 

 species are sometimes two in number, although the maternal Seal is often forced to content 

 herself with a single child. 



Like the Common Seal, the Atak is possessed of much intelligence, and is very capable of 

 domestication. 



Two of these animals which were placed in the zoological collection at the Jardin des 

 Plantes, were at their first arrival extremely shy, and would avoid the person of a man with 

 every mark of terror. Yet in a very short time they became quite tame, and would voluntarily 

 seek the caresses of those who had behaved kindly towards them. They also struck up a 

 great friendship with two little dogs, and would permit their little playfellows to take all 

 kinds of liberties with them, permitting the dogs to sit on their backs and bark, and not even 

 resenting on occasional bite. They would even permit the dogs to take their food from their 

 months, but if their relation attempted to act in like manner, a sharp combat immediately took 

 place, the weaker being forced ultimately to succumb to superior might 



In cold weather, dogs and Seals were accustomed to huddle closely together for the sake 

 of warmth, and when the dogs made their way out of the entrance, the Seals did their best to 

 follow their little playfellows, caring nothing for the rough ground over which they were 

 !' >rced to pass. 



The Harp Seal is an abundant species in Greenland, and forms one of the great necessi- 

 ties of the Esquimaux all parts of its body being utilized in the domestic requirements of that 



