66 THE COMMON SEAL. 



The voice of the Common Seals is harsh and 

 and unpleasant,, and has been compared to that of 

 an angry dog. When they are young this is more 

 shrill, and somewhat resembles the mewing of a 

 cat. We are informed by M. de Buffon, that young 

 ones, which are taken from their dams, mew conti- 

 nually, and sometimes will die of hunger sooner 

 than receive the food that is offered to them*. 



The flesh of these animals is by no means bad 

 eating ; and, in former times, it was occasionally 

 served up at the most sumptuous and splendid 

 tables. The inhabitants of the western islands 

 of Scotland frequently cure it for winter's food, 

 by means of the ashes of burnt sea-weeds. The fat 

 is more clear and sweet than that of any of the 

 whales. In the south of Europe the skins are some- 

 times used for covering trunjcs, for making waist- 

 coats, and shot pouches; and, when properly 

 dressed, for making shoes and boots. In the 

 Hebrides, a girdle made of seal-skin is considered 

 a never failing remedy against the sciatica; and 

 the inhabitants of Aberdeenshire frequently wear 

 this to remove the hooping cough. A mode has 

 lately been invented of plucking out the long 

 hairs from the skins, and leaving behind the fine 

 and thick down, which is afterwards cut off and 

 manufactured into hats. 



* Buffon, par Sonnini, xxxiv. p. 74. 



The 



