V. 



THE GREY SEAL AT CLOSE 

 QUARTERS. 



WHEN staying during a recent summer on 

 the shores of Loch Feochan a somewhat un- 

 usual opportunity occurred of watching at 

 close quarters a very fine specimen of the great 

 or grey seal, Halichaerus gryphus. Looking 

 down from the front door, at the first bend of 

 the loch seawards, there is a rocky reef or islet 

 just half a mile distant, entirely submerged at 

 high tide. One morning, happening to glance 

 in that direction at ebb-tide, a light-coloured 

 speck was noticed which drew attention as 

 being unusual. This through a stalking-glass 

 was seen at once to be a large seal. The rock 

 on which he was lying is only some 300 yards 

 from a projecting point of the shore, and some 

 small bushes on it promised cover. 



No time was lost in proceeding thither, when 

 a careful stalk brought the observers to the 

 outmost bushes, the glasses brought to bear, 



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