44 



WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



boat, and although thrust back by the oars, it never 

 relinquished its purpose ; indeed, it struggled so hard 

 to regain its seat, that one would imagine its fondness 

 for its master had entirely overcome the natural predi- 

 lection for its native element. There is a curious story 

 told of one of these animals — I believe the leading 

 incidents of the narrative to be perfectly authentic, 

 and it is a memorable record of enduring attachment 

 in the animal, and exquisite barbarity in the man. The 

 tale runs thus : — 



** About 40 years ago a young seal was taken in Clew 

 Ray, and domesticated in the kitchen of a gentleman, 

 whose house was situated on the sea-shore. It grew 

 apace, became familiar with the servants, and attached 

 to the house and family ; its habits were innocent and 

 ' gentle ; it played with the children, came at its master's 

 call, and, as the old man described him to me, was * fond 

 as a dog, and playful as a kitten.' 



" Daily the seal went out to fish, and, after providing 

 for his own wants, frequently brought in a salmon or 

 turbot to his master. His delight in summer was to 

 bask in the sun, and in winter to lie before the fire, 

 or, if permitted, creep into the large oven, which at that 

 time formed the regular appendage of an Irish kitchen. 

 " For four years the seal had been thus domesticated, 

 when, unfortunately, a disease, called in this country 

 the crippawn — a kind of paralytic affection of the limbs, 

 which generally ends fatally — attacked some black cattle 

 belonging to the master of the house ; some died, others 

 became infected, and the customary cure produced by 

 changing them to drier pasture failed. A wise woman 

 was consulted, and the hag assured the credulous owner 

 that the mortality among his cows was occasioned by 



