312 THE PEDRO SHOAL. 



shore. They immediately succeeded in heading a 

 ' Bull,' or Male Seal, both big and burly, and killed 

 him. He proved to be an aged patriarch, with teeth 

 nearly worn to the stumps, and a hide gashed and 

 seamed with scars, got in many a fierce fight ; — and 

 about ten feet in length. 



*' In the scramble which the Seal makes to regain 

 the water, nothing is to be remarked but the violence 

 and impatience with which he jerks his body for- 

 ward ; but when he plunges from the shore into the 

 sea, it is no small treat to see the suddenness with 

 which the uncouth animal, so unwieldy and helpless 

 on land, becomes gracefully alert in the ocean. The 

 command with which he strikes through the water, 

 the velocity with w^hich he cleaves the flood, the ease 

 with which he winds the mazes of the rocks, and 

 dashes forward into the hidden recesses of the deep, 

 are beautifully interesting in a creature looking so 

 essentially a quadruped. When the boat is afloat 

 again, the Seals come trooping out to reconnoitre. 

 At a depth of about three feet they paddle about, 

 gazing up through the clear liquid with an expression 

 of countenance beaming with curiosity and intelli- 

 gence. They dodge around the boat, occasionally 

 ascending to the surface, to renew their inspirations 

 of air, and to look upon their island home, to as- 

 certain whether they may return thither and be at 

 rest. 



" A grown-up cub about four feet long had been 

 taken by the people. One Seal was observed more 

 persevering in her watchfulness and assiduity to re- 

 gain the shore, than the rest. This was conjectured 



