66 LUNDY ISLAND. 



body, as well as the tentacles, are filled with it, and 

 swollen to a surprising extent. All the rich colours, 

 especially those of the tentacles, are softened, diluted, 

 and rendered translucent by this process ; and the 

 gorgeous array exhibited by a finely-coloured indi- 

 vidual, when in this condition, can hardly be sur- 

 passed by anything of the kind. 



With much fatigue and difficulty we made our way 

 up the lofty slope, not altogether without danger, from 

 the loose stones which the climbers were perpetually 

 dislodging from the rubble, and rolling down upon 

 the heads of those coming up below. Arrived at Ben- 

 jamin's Chair, we sat a few moments to recruit our- 

 selves, while our friend entertained us with anecdotes 

 illustrative of the habits of the seal. 



11 1 was one day standing," said he, " here at Ben- 

 jamin's Chair, when I saw in the water below, which 

 was clear and smooth, a large seal come up to the 

 surface, carrying in his mouth a conger-eel, perhaps 

 some eight or ten feet long, and as thick as my leg. 

 The animal played with his prey, exactly as you have 

 seen a cat play with a mouse; letting it go, then 

 darting after it as it sought to escape, and catching it 

 with perfect ease. All its motions were full of grace. 

 At length the seal bit the fish in sunder with one 

 snap, and, allowing one portion to sink, ne ate from 

 the other till he reached the head. This he rejected, 

 throwing it from him ; then dived for the tail, which 

 he brought up, and ate that in like manner. 



" On another occasion, near the same spot, I ob- 



