THE COMMON SEAL* 185 



again return into the water *. — The following is an 

 interesting communication on this subject from Dr. 

 Hamilton of Ipswich. " Some time ago, a farmer of 

 Aberdowr, a town on the Fifeshire side of the banks 

 of the Frith of Forth, in going out among the rocks 

 to catch Lobsters and Crabs, discovered a young 

 Seal, about two feet and a half long, which he 

 brought home. He offered him some pottage and 

 milk, which the animal greedily devoured. It was 

 fed in this manner for three days ; when the min's 

 wafe considering it an intruder in her family, wouid 

 not suffer it to be kept any longer. Taking some 

 men of the town along with him for the purpose, 

 he threw it into the sea; but notwithstanding all iheir 

 endeavours, it persisted in returning to them. It was 

 agreed that the tallest of the men should walk into 

 the water as far as he could, and having thrown the 

 animal in, they should hide themselves behind 

 a rock at some distance. This was accordingly done ; 

 but the affectionate creature returned from the wa- 

 ter, and soon discovered them in their hiding-place. 

 The farmer again took it home, where he kept it 

 for some time ; but at length growing tired of it, 

 he had it killed for the sake of its skin." 



The Seals are taken for tlie advantage of their skins 

 and oil. The time when tliis is done is generally in 

 October, or the beginning of November. The hun- 

 ters, provided with torches and bludgeons, enter the 

 mouths of the caverns about midnight, and row in as 

 far as they can. They then land ; and, being properly 



* paifon's.Phi!. Tran. vpl. 47, p. US. 



