THE SEAL. 



Their skins are also very valuable, and are made into 

 a beautiful sort of leather used for shoes, and various 

 other purposes, so that if the seal be no longer consi- 

 dered as a delicacy of the table, it forms an important 

 article of trade. 



When taken young these animals are capable of 

 being tamed, and will even answer to a name, and 

 follow their masters like a dog. A seal was exhibit- 

 ed in London, in the year 1750, which would answer 

 to its keeper's call, take food from his hand, stretch 

 out its neck as if to salute him, and crawl in and out 

 of the water at command. Another animal of the 

 same species was so far domesticated, that though 

 taken out to sea every day, and thrown in from a 

 boat, it invariably swam after its master, and allowed 

 itself to be retaken without any attempt to escape. 

 When at home it was generally kept in a vessel of 

 salt water, but sometimes crawled about the house, 

 and even approached the fire. 



There are, as already observed, several varieties of 

 this animal, of which the most remarkable. are the 

 Leonine and Ursine Seal ; but these I shall, for bre- 

 vity sake, omit, especially as their general character- 

 istics and commercial importance are nearly the 

 same. I shall therefore pass forward to the last tribe 

 of quadrupeds, which I wish to recommend to your 

 notice. Leaving you therefore to reflect on the ef- 

 fects of human ingenuity and industry in deriving so 

 great advantages from the inferior creatures, and es- 

 pecially on the beniticence of the Creator, in render- 

 ing the animal race so eminently subservient to the 

 benefit of man, I shall conclude, by assuring you that 

 I am, with sincere affection, 



Dear Sir, 



Your's, &c. 



