MAMMALIA-SEAL. 205 



seem to vary ; and, according to the difference of climates, its color changes, 

 and even its §hape. 



The females of these animals bring forth in winter, and rear their 

 young upon some sand bank, rock, or small island, at some distance from 

 the continent. When they suckle their young, they sit upon their hinder 

 legs, and they continue with their dam for twelve or fifteen days; after 

 which, she brings them down to the water, accustoms them to swim, and 

 get their food by their own industry. As each litter never exceeds above 

 three or four, so the animal's cares are not much divided, and the education 

 of her little ones is soon completed. The young, particularly, distinguish 

 their mother's voice among the numerous bleatings of the old ones, and are 

 perfectly obedient to her call. The time that intervenes, from their birth 

 till they attain their full growth, being many years, the length of their 

 lives must also be very long. Buffon is of the opinion, that these animals 

 live upwards of a hundred years. 



The voice of the seal may be compared to the barking of an angry dog. 

 When young, they have a shrill note, somewhat like the mewing of a cat. 

 Those that are taken early from their dams mew continually, and very often 

 die, sooner than take the food that is offered them. These animals, in 

 general, are of a courageous nature. It is remarked, that, instead of being 

 terrified at thunder and lightning, they are rather delighted, generally come 

 on shore in tempests and storms, and even quit their icy abodes to avoid the 

 shock of the tempestuous waves : at such times, they sport in great num- 

 bers along the shore ; the tremendous conflict seems to divert them, and 

 the heavy rains that falll, appear to enliven them. They have naturally a 

 disagreeable scent, and when there are great numbers together, it is per- 

 ceived at a great distance. 



As they have a prodigious quantity of blood, and are also greatly 

 overloaded with fat, they are consequently of a very dull and heavy nature ; 

 they usually sleep soundly, and are fond of taking their repose on flakes 

 of ice, or on the sides of rocks, at which time the hunters approach very 

 near without disturbing them, and this is the usual method of taking them. 

 They are very seldom killed with firearms ; for, as they do not immediately 

 die, even if they are shot in the head, they plunge into the sea, and are 

 entirely lost to the hunter. The general method, therefore, is to surprise 

 tliem when asleep, and knock them on the head. 



