THE SEAL. 139 



stated periods of the year. On the northern coasts of 

 Greenland they retire in July, and, before the end of 

 September, generally return ; and the object of their 

 excursion is supposed to be food. In the beginning 

 of March they likewise disappear, and return again in 

 about ten weeks, accompanied by their young ; and, 

 previous to their setting out upon this expedition, whole 

 droves of them are seen together making towards the 

 north, and bending their course near that part of the 

 sea where their passage seems least likely to be impeded 

 by the ice. By what route, or in what manner they 

 return, is a circumstance utterly unknown ; but it is 

 observed that they are very fat when they leave the 

 coast, and remarkably thin when they re-appear. 



The females, in our climate, bring forth in winter, 

 and rear their young upon some sand-bank or rock, 

 where they remain with them from twelve to fifteen 

 days. These little animals, at the time of their birth, 

 are white, and their hair has the appearance and flexi- 

 bility of wool : whilst they are sucking, the female 

 erects herself upon her hinder feet, and the young 

 ones cling close to her sides : they are remarkable for 

 docility and gentleness ; and at the greatest distance 

 discover their parent's voice. Upon land, the seal # is 

 a very timid creature, though they are extremely cou- 

 rageous in the sea ; and in those parts where herrings 

 are found in shoals, whole herds of these animals always 

 reside. The skin of the seal sells for about four shil- 

 lings, and is used for shot-pouches and covering of 

 trunks ; but the Greenlanders chiefly pursue them for 



* It is supposed that the seal goes about eight months with young ; but 

 its migration prevents it from being posit kely known : its length of life 

 likewise has not been completely ascertained, but it is supposed not to 

 «xcecd fifteen or sixteen years. - 



