270 AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



are much more wary, and seldom suffer the hun- 

 ter to come near them. They are often seen 

 upon the rocks of the Cornish coast, basking in 

 the sun, or upon the inaccessible cliffs left dry by 

 the tide. There they continue, extremely watch- 

 ful, and never sleep long without moving, seldom 

 longer than a minute ; for then they raise their 

 heads, and if they see no danger, they lie down 

 again, raising and reclining their heads alternately 

 at intervals of about a minute each. The only 

 method, therefore, that can be taken, is to shoot 

 them : if they chance to escape, they hasten to- 

 wards the deep, flinging stones and dirt behind 

 them as they scramble along, and at the same time 

 expressing their pain or their fears by the most 

 distressful cry ; if they happen to be overtaken, 

 they make a vigorous resistance with their feet 

 and teeth till they are killed. 



The seal is taken for the sake of its skin, and 

 for the oil its fat yields. The former sells for 

 about four shillings ; and, when dressed, is very 

 useful in covering trunks, making waistcoats, shot- 

 pouches, and several other conveniencies. The 

 flesh of this animal formerly found place at the 

 tables of the great. At a feast provided by Arch- 

 bishop Neville for Edward the Fourth, there were 

 twelve seals and porpoises provided, among other 

 extraordinary rarities. 



As a variety of this animal, we may mention 

 the Sea Lion, described in Anson's Voyages. 

 This is much larger than any of the former ; 

 being from eleven to eighteen feet long. It is 

 so fat, that when the skin is taken off, the blub- 



