MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 63 



prised by a loud shout, when they will hurry by 

 thousands into the sea, swim about, and stare at 

 the novelty of their disturbers. When they come 

 out of the water, they shake themselves, and smooth 

 their hair with their hind feet ; apply their lips to 

 those of the female, as if they meant to kiss them ; 

 lie down and bask in the sun with their hind legs 

 up, which they wag as a dog does his tail ; some- 

 times roll themselves up into a ball and fall asleep. 

 Their sleep is never so sound but they all awake by 

 the least alarm, for their sense of hearing, as also 

 that of smelling, is most exquisite." 



In concluding this Memoir of theLife and Writings 

 of Pennant, it would be an omission not to acknow- 

 ledge the obligations which his indefatigable labours 

 conferred on Natural History. His Arctic Zoology 

 was originally intended to embrace the History of 

 Animals in' the Northern parts of America, which 

 at that time were connected with Great Britain. 

 With that view he had commenced collecting ma- 

 terials; and by dint of great industry, and the 

 contributions of various correspondents, including 

 the most eminent Naturalists both in this and other 

 countries, he had made far greater progress in his 

 undertaking than he could have anticipated. Mean- 

 time, however, the American States declared their 

 independence of Britain ; and this circumstance so 

 far interrupted the original plan, that, as the author 

 says^ " I could no longer support my claim of 

 entitling myself its (North America) humble Zoolo- 



