CHAP, xxix.] SHOOTING SEALS. 227 



before the tide has begun to rise, and then, having made up a 

 breastwork of sand and weed, I wait for the appearance of the 

 seals, who frequently, before the tide has risen much, come 

 floating in, with their heads above the water. If they do not 

 perceive ray embankment, I am nearly certain of a shot, but if 

 they do, they generally keep over on the opposite side of the 

 channel, watching it so closely that on the least movement on 

 my part they instantly dive. So quick are their movements in 

 the water, that I find it impossible to strike a seal with ball if he 

 is watching me, for quick and certain as is a detonating gun, 

 they are still quicker, and dive before the ball can reach them. 

 As for a flint gun, it has not a chance with them. Within the 

 memory of some of the people here, seals were very numerous 

 about this part of the coast, and were constantly killed by the 

 farmers for the sake of their oil, and with no weapons except 

 their hoes or spades, with which they attacked them when lying 

 on the sand-banks. It is but seldom that I see them restino- on 



O 



the shore, but occasionally watch them in that situation, as they 

 either lay sleeping on the banks or play about, which, notwith- 

 standing their unwieldy appearance, they sometimes do. At 

 other times they engage in the most determined battles with each 

 other, fighting like bulldogs, and uttering loud mournful cries. 

 In waiting for seals, attention must be paid more to the state of 

 the tide than to the time of day, although certainly, like all wild 

 animals, they appear less on their guard at early dawn than at 

 any other hour. The seal generally takes the same course every 

 day at the same height of tide, and basks on the same rock or 

 sand bank during low-water. They show themselves much less 

 in cold and stormy weather than when it is warm and fine. 

 Knowing this, and having seen a seal show himself in a parti- 

 cular channel or basin of the sea, you may be nearly sure of 

 seeing him there the next day, about the same height of tide. 



The young appear about July. When first born they are 

 nearly white, and the hair is rough and long: they gradually 

 become spotted and of a darker colour, like the old ones. The 

 very young ones that I have seen here were probably born about 

 the rocks and caves of the Ross-shire coast. Some rocks oH' the 

 coast near Gordonston were till very lately the constant resort 

 of seals, but owing to workmen having been employed there of 



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