ORNITHOLOGICAL EAMBLES. 17 



little animal was subjected to a still more lengthened 

 voyage, after having been first mutilated in the most 

 shameful and barbarous manner. Its expressive little 

 eyeballs were ruthlessly branded out by wires, made red 

 hot for the purpose, and it was for a second time cast 

 overboard with every sign of contumelious disgrace. 

 Again, also, in the still midnight hour, that same 

 plaintive voice more piercingly echoed on the stilly air. 

 The faithful little creature had dragged its famished 

 and suffering frame, by an instinct that human ideas 

 are unable to solve, to render up an agonised existence 

 upon the very threshold of its unnatural and cruel 

 guardians.* 



There is an individual resident in this town, a car- 

 penter by trade, popularly known by the more spirited 

 appellation of " the seal hunter," a well-knit, active, 

 game little man, who has, many a time and oft, braved 

 the stern dangers of an impetuous sea, and supplied 

 his family, and indirectly his pocket, the long dark 

 winter through, with many a reeking gallon of seal- 

 oil. His assistance having been procured, and his 

 co-operation decided upon, we agreed to take ad- 

 vantage of the first seasonable day, and, being for my 



* For a further illustration of my experience of the extra- 

 ordinary tractability of this animal, see ' Curiosities of 

 Natural History,' Third Series, by Frank Buckland, M.A., 

 vol. ii., p. 258. Eichard Bentley, New Burlington Street. 

 1866. 



