138 



CARNIVORES. 



period. Like other members of the family, this seal is readily attracted by music, 

 and will follow boats from which such sounds proceed to a considerable distance. 

 Whether, however, this attraction by musical sounds is due merely to the curiosity 

 characterising all the Pinniped Carnivores, or to an appreciation of the music itself, 

 has not been ascertained. In disposition the common seal is more intelligent and 

 gentle than most of its congeners; these qualities being displayed not only in 

 the care and affection they bestow on their offspring, but likewise by the 

 readiness with which they can be tamed, and their fidelity and affection for their 

 masters. There are, indeed, many instances where these seals have followed their 

 owners about like a dog ; and some where they have come back to a house after 

 every effort had been made to drive them away. 



THE GREENLAND SEAL (^ nat. size). 



Although the Greenland or, as it is often called, the harp, or 

 Greenland Seal. 



saddle-backed seal, in its immature condition is not easy to dis- 

 tinguish from the common seal, in the case of adult males of the two species 

 there is no sort of difficulty in this respect, the peculiar coloration of the Greenland 

 species being amply sufficient. In the adult male, as shown in our illustration, the 

 general colour is yellowish white or white ; the nose and the fore-part of the head 

 to behind the eyes are black ; and there are very generally some black spots on 

 the throat and chest. The most characteristic mark is, however, the irregular 

 crescentic band of black on each side of the body, extending from the shoulders 

 nearly to the tail ; these bands being generally widest where they unite in the 

 middle line over the shoulders. They may be interrupted posteriorly, but more 

 generally join once more in front of the tail, so as to enclose an ellipsoidal 



