MIGRATIOXS. 489 



The general subject of the movement of Seals along our 

 northern xVtlantic coast having been presented quite fully by 

 Mr. J. C. Steavenson, I herewith subjoin a transcript of his ac- 

 count, premising, however, that his remarks have a more lim- 

 ited application to Seals in general than the writer ai^i^ears 

 to have supposed, they doubtless having reference mainly to 

 the two species already mentioned as being preeminently mi- 

 gratory. 



" Independently of his constant motion in pursuit of his prey, 

 the migrations of the Seal are most extensive. During the 

 summer and autumn numbers of these creatures are met with, 

 scattered in small parties, in all parts of the Korthern Ocean 

 visited by the whalers and other fishermen, where they remain 

 until the severity of the Arctic winter warns them to retreat 

 southward. Mariners who have been beset amongst the ice, or 

 for otber reasons have passed the winter in these hyperborean 

 seas, remark that few Seals are met with during' the winter, 

 and some of them chronicle the time at which they first ap- 

 peared on their return. Our information with regard to their 

 general motions is not limited to these somewhat vague records. 

 The habits of the genus (for it consists of many species) are so 

 visible that we must conclude the scattered Seals met with 

 during the dark winter of the Pole are only stragglers [in 

 reality, the non -migratory species] left behind when the main 

 body moved southward. As the severity of the weather in- 

 creases it is evident that, like swallows, an instinctive move 

 ment must conmience, communicated to and understood by the 

 whole family, like a masonic sign, prompting a general assem- 

 bly of the clans at some long-frequented, well-known spot of 

 their wide domain, where, it is to be supposed, they enjoy their 

 sport until the gathering is completed. At length the frost 

 commences, and the army is set in motion. This proceeding is 

 keenly looked forward to and watched by the inhabitants of the 

 coast, whose interest is much involved in their passing visit, 

 and who fail not to levy tribute in kind. A fisherman, posted 

 as sentinel on some headland commanding" an extensive sea- 

 view, communicates to the hamlet the first indication of the 

 approaching host, the vanguard of which invariably consists of 

 small detachments of from half a dozen to a score of Seals; 

 such parties continue to pass at intervals, gradually increasing 

 in frequency and numbers during the first two or three days of 

 the exodus, by the end of which time they are seen in companies 



