^36 OBSERVATIONS 



protect her. She brings forth but one at 

 a birth, which at first is dull and stupid, 

 easily caught. If thrown into the water, 

 however, he exerts himself with some ac- 

 tivity, and returns to the shore, not having 

 as yet acquired any shyness. But by the 

 time all his first coat of white hair is fallen 

 off, he begins to be timid. The growth 

 of the young seals is very rapid. 



The seal, when out of the water, can 

 hardly distinguish objects at half a quarter 

 of a mile's distance at the utmost. ]3ut 

 in foggy and dull weather he sees better 

 than in sunshine. He never remains in 

 the water during moon-light nights. His 

 hearing is acute though he has no external 

 ears, and his scent is also very quick. He 

 can remain under water for nearly half 

 a quarter of an hour ; but by that time 

 he must, at the peril of his life, come to 

 the surface to breathe, which he often does 

 within a fathom of the shore, and he after- 

 wards spouts out water. 



Nets for catching seals are set right out 



