210 SEAL 



from seals, named Clann-ic-Codrum. A purse made of the skin 

 of a seal is considered good and lucky. There are — or were — 

 several saints Ronan, or seal saints. The seal has been described 

 as " half dog, half fish " ; and also as " neither dogs nor cods but 

 downright fairies." A wild wordless chant, into which bursts of 

 loud whistling are introduced frequently, called " the fisherman's 

 song for attracting seals," exists. To trap or circumvent a seal 

 is a test of manhood. 



Martin describes the mode of catching seals pursued at 

 Heiskeir, an island famous for seals ; he also states that the 

 parish minister had his choice of the young seals, which are called 

 "Cullen Mori" (cuilein Mairi), Virgin's whelps or Mary's seals, 

 Mary's whelps. Seal flesh is allowed to be eaten by Roman 

 Catholics in Lent, in the North. From Columban records the 

 monks of lona appear to have used seal's flesh. As above hinted, 

 the young seals were a perquisite of the parish minister in some 

 places. The large, or ocean seals as they are sometimes described, 

 bring forth their young in the beginning of October, the lesser 

 ones in the middle of June ; the teats of the mother seal are 

 invisible, being secreted under the skin as a protection against 

 injury on rocks ; the difficulty of access to the young is overcome 

 by the tongue being cloven. Flesh of young seals and broth 

 therefrom is excellent in cases of chest weaknesses or complaints 

 pectoral, and the flesh being astringent, is also good against 

 diarrhoea and dysentery, while the liver, dried and pulverised, 

 and taken in milk, is good against flux. A girdle of seal's skin 

 worn next the person round the waist is a cure for sciatica and 

 weakness ; this comes from Harris, while in Aberdeen it is held 

 also good against chincough. Seal's flesh, when partaken of by 

 the upper classes, was called " Hannsi," and can be eaten instead 

 of fish in Lent ; it is also called '^ carr," whence the Gaelic word 

 "carghus," Lent is thought to come. In Sweden and Norway a 

 system of extermination is — or was — foolishly pursued by the 

 State, of this animal, which, iJiter alia, according to Boece's 

 Hlstoria, formed a stable export to France. " Selch and Salmone, 

 Scuir pellat and pran, for fox and fulmart and of mertrik skin . . . 

 into France." Scuir is said to mean "turbot." In the Shetland 

 Isles, a supposed supernatural being takes the form of the larger seal 

 or Haaf-fish. A spliucan, or tobacco-pouch made of the skin of 

 a seal is said to indicate the humour of the animal or fairy — as 

 it is supposed to be — at the time, the hair or bristles being either 

 erect or sleek, according to the then disposition of the former 

 owner ; this belief applies to purses and spliucain, both of which 

 are seldom empty. Seals were also supposed to be the sons or 

 children of kings under a spell or enchantment, "Mac righ fo 

 gheasaibh " being a saying found frequently in old Celtic tales. 

 As evidence of its human descent, the hand-like paws are pointed 

 to as all that remains of the human state (F. L.). Many places 



