SEALS. 57 



These performances are the more wonderful be- 

 cause the long limbs of the Seal are so feeble in com- 

 parison with the size of the body that they bend under 

 its weight, and the animal is compelled to advance by 

 swinging the legs under it by way of making bteps, 

 and at the same time swaying its body from side to 

 side so as to allow the legs to pass beneath. 



Judging from its slow and awkward movements 

 when it is not hurried, a Seal when on land appears as 

 if it could not proceed at any great pace, and, indeed, 

 it looks so helpless that progression appears to be 

 absolutely painful as well as difficult. But when it 

 is actuated by fear, anger, or expectation, it can propel 

 itself at a wonderful rate. This it does by a series of 

 rapid leaps, the body undulating violently, and looking 

 like a large fat caterpillar working its way along. 



The body is never raised more than a few inches 

 from the ground during these leaps, but the rate of 

 speed is very great, as is often experienced by 

 hunters who have surprised a party of Seals on shore, 

 and are trying to intercept them in their passage 

 towards the water, to which they rush at the least 

 alarm. Should the beach be a stony one, the pebbles 

 are flnng back in showers by the action of the hind 

 feet, so that the course of the pursuers is often mate- 

 rially checked by them. The missiles are not, 

 however, flung intentionally, as some persons have 

 thought, but are thrown by the natural action of the 

 animal, just as a horse at full gallop flings mud or 

 stones from its hind feet. 



Any one who wishes to see the curious galloping 

 movement of the Seal has only to go to the Zoological 



