118 



STORIES OF BIRDS AND BEASTS 



sadden you. But we know at best they are useless to 

 us, and trouble the Fur Seals by worrying them and 

 disputing their breeding grounds, so the Aleuts are 

 welcome to them. 



" Another waterman there is that, even now, you may 

 see for yourselves some day about a rocky harbor or 

 river mouth. He wears hair and no fur, and he is the 

 true Seal, not the Sea Bear. He is, or was, common to 



HARBOR SEAL. 



all coasts, and has many names, Sea Dog, Hair Seal, 

 Common Seal, or Harbor Seal." 



" Harbor Seal is the name that Wise Men prefer," 

 said Dr. Roy ; " and when my father was a young man 

 these Seals haunted the rocks of New York harbor in 

 great numbers. Robbins Reef, that we have so often 

 passed, Olive, was called after these Seals by Dutch 

 sailors, robyn meaning Seal in their language." 



" I knew not that," said Olaf ; " but in spring they 

 herd about Newfoundland, having their young in May 

 and June, but going to the warmer sea islands in 



