266 AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



track, like birds of passage. When they go upon 

 this expedition, they are seen in great droves, 

 for many days together, making towards the north, 

 taking that part of the sea most free from ice, 

 and going still forward into those seas where man 

 cannot follow. In what manner they return, or 

 by what passage, is utterly unknown ; it is only 

 observed, that when they leave the coasts to go 

 upon this expedition they are all extremely fat, 

 but on their return they come home excessively 

 lean. 



The females in our climate bring forth in winter, 

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

 or desolate island, at some distance from the con- 

 tinent. When they suckle their young, they sit 

 up on their hinder legs, while these, which are at 

 first white with woolly hah*, cling to the teats, of 

 which there are four in number, near the navel.* 

 In this manner the young continue in the place 

 where they are brought forth for twelve or fifteen 

 days ; after which the dam brings them down to 

 the water, and accustoms them to swim, and get 

 their food by their own industry. As each litter 

 never exceeds above three or four, so the animal's 

 cares are not much divided, and the education 

 of her little ones is soon completed. In fact, the 

 young are particularly docile ; they understand 

 the mother's voice among the numerous bleatings 

 of the rest of the old ones j they mutually assist 

 each other in danger, and are perfectly obedient 

 to her call. Thus early accustomed to subjection, 



' Cocunt in litloic rcsupinata funiua. LIN. SYVT. 



