60 THE COMMON SEAL. 



of its master, from the hospital, it continued for 

 some time to emit a melancholy noise, evidently 

 bemoaning its loss ; and it died in the course of the 

 ensiling week. 



A live Seal of the present species, that had been 

 caught below Yarmouth, was brought to Ipswich, 

 and carried about the streets in a basket, as a show. 

 Dr. Hamilton saw and examined it. The animal was 

 so gentle as to suffer him, though a stranger, to 

 stroke its head ; whilst, at the same time, it turned 

 quickly about, with open mouth, like a dog in the 

 act of playing, rolling its fine black eyes, as if 

 greatly delighted. It also allowed him, without 

 any difficulty, to examine its fore-feet ; and to 

 extend, in order to view their structure, the webs 

 of the hinder ones. 



Seals are gregarious or social animals; and on 

 rocky shores, not much frequented by mankind, 

 they are often found collected together in immense 

 multitudes. Their fetid and offensive odour, when 

 thus collected, is sometimes perceptible to a great 

 distance. 



They sleep on rocks and sea-banks; and it is 

 generally understood, that, on these occasions, they 

 are peculiarly watchful against danger. Some re- 

 spectable writers have asserted, that they post a 

 centinel, to guard them during their hours of re- 

 pose, on the first signal of alarm from which they 

 all scramble towards the sea, and with precipitation 

 throw themselves into the water. Mr. Pennant 



informs 



