SUBTERRANEOUS CHAMBER. 67 



served a seal treating a salmon, which he had caught, 

 after a similar fashion. It was astonishing to see 

 how utterly powerless were all the attempts of the 

 salmon to escape before the rushing pounce of the 

 seal ; it was overtaken and seized in an instant. 

 When he was tired of his play, he suddenly tore off 

 a large portion from the fish's side, and I assure you 

 that the severing of the muscles was distinctly audible 

 where I stood. In this instance the creature devoured 

 the back part first, and, like an epicure as he was, 

 reserved the beUy for the bonne bouche. 



11 1 believe our species is the common spotted seal 

 (Plioca vitulina) ; I do not think we have any 

 other." 



As we were returning, we made a slight deviation 

 from our way, to see a hole which had just been dis- 

 covered, and which was the present wonder of the 

 little island's population. One of the men had noticed, 

 in a particular part of the moor, that the earth 

 returned a hollow sound. On digging, a block of 

 granite was found a little below the surface. It was 

 about eighteen inches thick, and was estimated to 

 weigh five tons ; its ends rested on two upright slabs, 

 between which was a cavity, some six feet deep and 

 as many wide. It was evident that the excavation 

 had been made, and the stones placed, by human 

 labour ; and the latter operation must have been 

 one of no small difficulty, from the great weight of 

 the slabs ; but for what purpose it could have been 

 made, whether as a place for temporary retirement, 



