70 Quadrupeds. 



there are several strong bristles. From the shoulders 

 the body tapers to the tail, which is very short. The 

 eyes are large : there are mo external ears ; and the 

 tongue is cleft or forked at the end. The body is covered 

 with short thick-set hair, which in the common species 

 is generally grey, but sometimes brown or blackish. 

 There are, however, several species; and one of them, 

 which is called the sea-leopard, has the fur spotted with 

 white or yellow. 



Seals are hunted by the Greenlanders for the sake of 

 their oil, and also for their skins, which are used for 

 making waistcoats and other articles of clothing, and are 

 much prized by the fishermen for their great warmth. 

 The oil, of which a full grown specimen yields four or 

 five gallons, is very clear and transparent, and destitute 

 of the unpleasant odour and taste of whale-oil. When 

 attacked, they fight with great fury ; but when taken 

 young, are capable of being tamed ; they will follow 

 their master like a dog, and come to him when called by 

 the name given to them. Some years ago a young Seal 

 was thus domesticated. It was taken at a little distance 

 from the sea, and was generally kept in a vessel full of 

 salt water : but sometimes it was allowed to crawl about 

 the house, and even to approach the fire. Its natural 

 food was regularly procured for it ; and it was carried to 

 the sea every day, and thrown in from a boat. It used 

 to swim after the boat, and always allowed itself to 

 be taken back. It lived thus for several weeks, and 

 probably would have lived much longer, had it not 

 been sometimes too roughly handled. The females in 

 this climate bring forth in winter, and rear their 

 young upon some sand-bank, rock, or desolate island, 

 at some distance from the main land. When they 

 suckle their young, they sit up on their hinder legs, 

 while the little Seals, which are at first white, with 

 woolly hair, cling to the teats, which are four in num- 

 ber. In this manner the young continue in the place 

 where they are brought forth for twelve or fifteen 

 days ; after which the dam brings them down to the 

 water, and accustoms them to swim and get their food 

 by their own industry. 



