BOOK I X .] History of Nature. 1 23 



as the Dolphins ; a Bark, as Tortoises ; the Hardness of 

 Flint, as Oysters and Cockles ; Crusts, as Crayfishes 

 (Locustae) ; Crusts and Spines, as Sea-eggs (Echini) ; Scales, 

 as Fishes ; or a rough Skin, as the Skate (Squatina) ; which 

 is used to polish Wood and Ivory. Some have a soft Skin, 

 as Muraenae ; others none, as the Polypus. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

 Of the Sea- Calf. * 



THOSE which are clothed with Hair, as the Pristis, 

 Balaena, and Sea-Calf, bring forth their Young alive. The 

 latter calveth on dry Land, in the Manner of Cattle; and 

 returneth Secundines. The Female adheres to the Male, in 

 the Manner of Dogs : she never produceth more than two at 

 a Birth ; and she suckles her Young at her Paps. She doth 

 not bring them to the Sea before the twelfth Day, and then 

 she accustometh them to it frequently. It is difficult to kill 

 them unless the Head is crushed. They utter a Lowing in 

 their Sleep, from whence they are called Calves. Never- 

 theless they learn what is taught them ; and they salute the 

 People at the same Time with the Voice and Look ; the 

 Sound being a rude Murmuring. If called by their Name, 

 they answer. No living Creature sleepeth more soundly 

 than they. The Fins they use to swim with in the Sea serve 

 them to creep along with instead of Feet when on Land. It 

 is said that their Skins, after they are stripped from their 

 Bodies, retain a Sensibility of the Seas; for as the Water 

 ebbeth they become rugged. Moreover, their right Fins are 

 thought to have a soporific Power, and to produce Sleep, if 

 laid under one's Head. 



1 Sea-Calf. Phoca VituUna.Lm^.Wern. Club. 



