r.U DIVISION I. VKP.TEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. JIAMMALIA. 



it rcttirnc'il to tlie men. The tallest of tlicm ■wadud to a considcralilc dis- 

 tance into the sea, and, after throwing it as far as he was able, speedily got 

 behind a roek, and concealed himself; bnt the affectionate animal soon dis- 

 covered his hiding-phu'e, and crept close up to his feet. The farmer, moved 

 ]ty its attachment, took it home again, and kept it for some time." 



Seals arc said to be delighted with nuisic. ^Ir. Laing, in his acconnt of 

 a voyage to Spitzbergen, mentions that the son of the master of the vessel 

 ill which he sailed, who was fond of plavinir on the violin, never iailed 

 to have a numerous auditory when in the seas frequented by seals ; and 

 they have been seen to follow a ship for miles, when any person was j)laying 

 on the deck. 



It is a common practice in Cornwall, England, for persons, when in pur- 

 suit ot' seals, as soon as the animal has elevated its head above water, to 

 halloo to it till they can approach within gun-shot, as it will listen to the 

 soLUid for several minutes. 



" 'i'he fondness of these animals for musical sounds is a curious peculiarity 

 in their nature, and has been to me," remarks ]\Ir. Dunbar, "often a subject 

 (it interest and amusement. l)uring a residence of some vears in one of 

 the Hebrides, I had many opportunities of witnessing this peculiarity, and, 

 in fact, could call foi'th its manifestation at pleasure. In walking along the 

 shore in the calm of a sunnner afternoon, a kw notes of my tlute would 

 bring half a score of them within tliirty or forty \-ards of me; and then they 

 would swim about with their heads abo\e water, like so many black dogs, 

 evidently delighted with the soimds. For half an horn-, or, indeed, for any 

 length of time 1 chose, I could fix them to the spot ; and when I moved 

 along the water-edge, they would fiillow me with eagerness, like the dol- 

 jihius, who, it is said, attended Arion, as if an.xious to prolong the enjoy- 

 ment. I have irecpicntly witnessed the same effects when out on a boat 

 excursion. The sound of the flute, or of a common fife, blown by one of the 

 boatmen, was no sooner heard tlian half a dozen would start up within a 

 few yards, wheeling round us as long as the music played, and disapjjcaring, 

 one after another, when it ceased." 



This singular taste for music is by no means confined to British seals. 

 We have, on several occasions, observed the same 2}eeuliarity on the coast 

 of Massachusetts, particularly in the quiet bays which indent the South 

 Shore. At one time, in Ilingham harbor, a hand-organ sent forth its 

 strains over the water, when a troop of seals started up, and whirled round, 

 apparently in the highest state of enjiiyment, stop[>ing at times, resting up- 

 right on the wave, and observing the spectators with the greatest interest and 

 gravity. 



All the species show great sagacity in guarding against sudden attacks 



