HABITS OF THE SEAL. 133 



progeny for several generations. They are cliiefly seen in 

 flocks, amounting sometimes to hundreds. The teeth are 

 very sharp, and the bite is severe. The habits of the seal 

 are filthy, and singularly mischievous. A perpetual tyrant 

 over weaker animals, it is also an object of constant pursuit 

 with others. The white bear — with whom the seal is a great 

 dainty — is constantly on the watch to surprise it when sleep- 

 ing on the ice ; but the cautious animal usually selects a sin- 

 gle piece of ice for a nap, from which it may gain a full view of 

 all around, and the proximity of the water may afford a ready 

 means of escape. They are also said to have a great dread 

 of the toothed whales. If a grampus perceives a seal of any 

 species basking on floating ice, it does its best to upset the 

 ice, or beat the seal off with its fins, when the animal be- 

 comes any easy prey. 



Seals are easily stunned by a blow on the forehead ; but 

 from this state they often recover, and are desperate in their 

 revenge. The sea-calf, in particular, is subject to violent 

 fits of anger. After it has been hoisted on board a ship from 

 the boat in which it had been carried, apparently dead from 

 the blows it had received, it has been known to recover un- 

 expectedly, and seizing with its teeth the nearest object 

 within reach, tear away such a portion as it could grasp. 

 Even after death this irritation manifests itself, as the mus- 

 cular parts of the animal — though stripped of its outer in- 

 teguments or coverings — still retain the principle of vitality, 

 starting and quivering long after the dismemberment of the 

 body has taken place. 



When seals are observed making their escape in the wa- 

 ter before the boat reaches the ice, the sailors give a loud, 

 prolonged shout, which, causing them to stop in amazement 

 at a sound so uncommon, sometimes delays their retreat until 

 arrested by the fatal blows of their pursuers. 



In the higher latitudes, the Bearded or Great Seals are 

 mostly found. These are usually of an enormous size, some- 



