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MAMMALIA-SEAL. 205 
seem to vary ; and, according to the difference of climates, its color changes, 
and even its shape. 
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 fall, 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 Mis, Be 
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 
them when asleep, and knock them on tne head. 
