68 HIE PIED SEAL. 



capture, its skin was naked, like that of a porpesse ; 

 and only the head, and a small part beneath each 

 leg, had any hair upon them ; but before the animal 

 died, the hair began to grow on the other parts of 

 its body. 



A pied Seal, mentioned by M. de Buffon, was 

 caught in the Gulf of Venice, on the small island of 

 Guarnero, near the coast of Dalmatia, in the year 

 1777. It had been often chased without success; 

 and at last had nearly escaped, by breaking through 

 the fishermen's nets. According to the report of 

 the oldest of the fishermen, the animal had been 

 known for more than fifty years. Its teeth were 

 yellow, and much worn ; and its whiskers were of 

 great length, white, and the hairs very rough. 



This Seal was examined by M. de Buffon, in 

 December, 1778, fourteen months after it had been 

 caught. Notwithstanding its great age, it had been 

 rendered exceedingly docile; and it exhibited no 

 ferocity of disposition whatever. It was attentive 

 to the voice of its owner, and, on all occasions, 

 obeyed his commands with great readiness. It 

 would bend itself, roll round, turn on its back, 

 give the man one of its paws or fins, or elevate the 

 upper parts of its body out of the water of the tub 

 in which it was kept, according to his orders. It 

 answered to his call or signs, by its voice, which was 

 hoarse, and seemed to proceed from the bottom of 

 its throat, and had some resemblance to the hoarse 

 bellowing of a bull. On attentively watching the 



animal, 



