igi THE URSINE SEAL. 



affliction, shedding tears, and shewing every mark 

 of sorrow. 



Those animals that, through age or impotence, 

 are deserted by the females, withdraw themsvlves 

 from society, and grow exces ively splenetic, pee- 

 vish, and quarrelsome ; they become very furious, 

 and so attached to their own stations, as to prefer 

 even death to the loss of them. If they perceive 

 another animal approaching them, they are instantly 

 roused from their indolence, snap at the encroacher, 

 and give him battle. During the fight, they insen- 

 sibly intrude on the 'Station of their neighbour, who 

 then joins in the contest ; so that at length the civil 

 discord spreads through the whole shore, attended 

 with hideous growls, their note of war*. — Mr, 

 Steller, and his men, in order to try the experi- 

 ment, wantonly attacked one of the.-e seals, put out 

 both his eyes, and irritated four or hvc of his neigh- 

 bours by throwing stones at them. When these 

 pursued him he ran towards the blind animal ; who, 

 hearing them approach, fell upon them with the 

 utmost fury. Mr. Sleller escaped to an adjoining 

 eminence, from whence lie observed the battle, 

 which raged for several hours. The blind Seal at- 

 tacked, without distinction, both friends and ene- 

 mies ; till, at length, the whole herd, taking part 

 against him, allov/ed him no rest, cither on shore or 

 in the sea, out of which they more than once 

 dragged him to land, till he was dead. 



This is one of the causes of disputes among these 



* Penn. Arct. Zool. i. l68. 



