OBSERVATIONS ON SEALS. 235 



weeks, and becomes quite black. At the 

 same period it acquires more activity and 

 shyness than at first. The upper fore teeth 

 are six, very small, resembling those of a 

 dog. The eye-teeth slightly enlarged at 

 their outer edge, as in the dog, and fur- 

 nished with a little notch at their base. 

 Grinders six. Whiskers remarkably large. 

 There are two nipples a little below the 

 navel, which the female has a power of 

 drawing in, so as to leave holes large 

 enough to admit the finger. She lets them 

 out at pleasure to her young one. 



The seal lies on its back while sleeping, 

 either on the ice or on rocks. They couple 

 soon after the feast of St. Matthew, Sep- 

 tember 21 ; and the grey seal brings forth 

 its young in January, the creek seal in Fe- 

 bruary. The male runs round and round 

 the female many times, with a yelping 

 noise, being very careful not to be ob- 

 served. 



When the female has young, the male is 

 yery savage, and continually attends to 



