COMMON SEAL 57 



we have now no means of judging of the correctness of his 

 surmise. In former years, when this Seal was more abundant 

 in its northern habitats, it is not improbable that one or 

 two may have occasionally wandered to our shores, but as 

 our information at present stands, we would scarcely be 

 justified in giving the species a full place on our list.] 



COMMON SEAL. 

 PHOCA VITULINA L. 



Although not so abundant as formerly, this is still a 

 common animal in the Firths of Forth and Tay, where it 

 may be seen all the year round. Off the southern shores of 

 the Forth, from Dunbar to Prestonpans, I have watched them 

 on many occasions, and I recently saw one living in confine- 

 ment which had been taken in the salmon-nets at Dalmeny. 

 But their headquarters appear to be on the north side of the 

 firth westward from Aberdour, and in the bay above North 

 Queensferry within the estuary proper. When boating among 

 the islands off Aberdour during the summer months, I have 

 invariably found them present, occasionally in considerable 

 numbers. On New Year's day 1886, I discovered a small 

 one, apparently asleep, on a rock in Dalgetty Bay. It being 

 low water at the time, I was able to walk within 12 to 15 

 yards of the animal, whose slumbers I rudely broke by a 

 thump on the ribs with a good- sized stone. Instantly bending 

 itself like a bow, with the central part alone resting on the 

 rock, it gave a sudden jerk and sprang into the water. Once 

 there it evidently considered itself safe, and, reappearing 

 about 20 yards farther off, gazed in astonishment at the 

 cause of the sudden interruption. 



