COMMON SEAL. 253 



produce their young in the winter season, and 

 seldom bring more than two at a birth. It is said 

 that they suckle the young for about the space 

 of a fortnight on the spot where they were born, 

 after which they take them out to sea, and in- 

 struct them in swimming and seeking for their 

 food, which consists not only of fish, but of sea- 

 weeds, &c. &c. When the young are fatigued, 

 the parent is said to carry them on its back. The 

 Seal is supposed to be a long-lived animal, and 

 Buffon is even inclined to suppose that it may at- 

 tain to the age of an hundred years. The voice 

 of a full-grown Seal is a hoarse kind of sound, 

 not unlike the barking of a dog: that of the 

 young resembles the mewing of a kitten. They 

 have, however, like most other quadrupeds, va- 

 rious inflexions of voice, according to the passions 

 with which they are inspired. They are said to 

 delight in thunder-storms, and at such periods to 

 sit on the rocks and contemplate with seeming 

 delight the convulsions of the elements; in this 

 respect differing widely from the terrestrial quad- 

 rupeds, which are extremely terrified at such 

 times. Seals are generally very fat, and are 

 hunted in the northern regions for the sake of 

 their oil, which forms a great article of com- 

 merce : their skins also are much used for various 

 ^economical purposes. 



