S i2 THE HARP SEAL, OR ATAK. I 



demonstrations of affection towards the keeper who attends to their wants are quite 

 lively. They recognize him at a considerable distance, and shooting rapidly through 

 the water, fling themselves upon the bank, scuttle to the iron fence and rear themselves 

 against the rails in impatient greetings, long before he reaches the limits of their home. 

 Perhaps these ebullitions of regard are not totally personal to the keeper, but are partly 

 caused by certain pieces of fish which he carries with him. As soon as they receive 

 the expected gift, they seize it between their teeth, and unless they happen to be hungry, 

 become very playful, and execute all manner of aquatic gambols before they eat it, 

 much after the manner of a cat with a mouse. 



The specific name of Vitulina, or calf-like, has been given to the Common Seal, not 

 because it presents a calf-like aspect, but because its voice is thought to bear some 

 resemblance to the plaintive cry of a calf when separated from its mother. 



The HARP SEAL derives its name from the very conspicuous manner in which its fur 

 is colored. 



The general hue of the Harp Seal's coat is a whitish-gray, and upon that delicate 

 tint are drawn two broad, semicircular bands of a deep black, their points nearly touch- 

 ing each other, and extending from the shoulders nearly to the root of the tail. These 

 dark markings are thought to bear some resemblance to an ancient harp, and have given 

 rise to the popular name by which this species is designated. The muzzle and fore 

 part of the head is also black. This peculiar coloring, which seems to distinguish 

 this animal from any other species of Seal, is however never seen except in the adult 

 animal, and is not considered to be perfect until the creature has attained its fifth year. 

 Very many animals are variously marked according to their ages, sex, and time of year, 

 but there are few which undergo more decided changes than the Harp Seal ; changes 

 so unexpected that they have caused the animal to be described under several different 

 titles according to the particular coat which it happened at that time to wear. 



In the first few months of its existence, the fur of the Harp Seal is white in color 

 and woolly in texture. At the expiration of a year the white changes to a grayish-cream. 

 In the second year, the fur is entirely gray. In the third year, the gray is diversified 

 with stripes of darker hues, and varying in number, dimensions and position. The 

 fourth year changes the stripes into spots, and in the fifth year, the semi-lunar black 

 stripes make their appearance. 



The Greenlanders designate the Harp Seal by different titles according to its years ; 

 giving it the name of Atak, or Attarak, in its first year, Atteisiak in the second, Agletok 

 in the third, Milektok, in the fourth, and Attarsoak, in the fifth. 



The Harp Seal is found in great numbers upon the coasts of Greenland, Iceland, and 

 other localities, and is rather peculiar in its mode of life. It does not much affect the 

 shore after the fashion of many Seals, but prefers to take up its residence upon floating 

 ice-islands, disregarding even the more solid fields of ice that are so much frequented 

 by other animals belonging to the same family. It is found in considerable numbers, 

 congregating together in herds under the leadership of a single chief, and constantly 

 subject to his authority. 



There is always a sentinel planted by every herd, whose duty lies in looking out for 

 danger, and giving timely warning to the remainder of the herd. The Harp Seal seems 

 withal to be rather a reckless being, in spite of this precaution, for it is easily approached 

 by a cautious hunter, and can be destroyed with little difficulty. Sometimes it prefers to 

 take its repose without trusting itself upon ice or land, and sleeps while floating on the 

 surface of the sea. In this situation its slumbers are so profound that it has often been 

 surprised and slain before it has awoke from its treacherous somnolence. The Harp 

 Seal is moderate in size, being generally about seven or eight feet in length and proportion- 

 ably stout. Some very large specimens, however, are said to reach the length of nine 

 feet. 



It is an extremely valuable animal both to Europe in general, and to the uncivilized 

 inhabitants of Greenland. In this country we value the Harp Seal principally on account 

 of the excellent oil which it furnishes, and which is allowed to be of a purer and better 

 character than that which is obtained from other oil-producing animals. The creature is 



