46 



near the coast ; but when approached too near, they 

 suddenly precipitate themselves into the water. — = 

 Sometimes they sleep sound; and it is affirmed by 

 some, that the Seal sleeps more profoundly than 

 most other quadrupeds. The structure of the Seal is 

 so singular, that, as Buffon well observes, it was 

 a kind of model on which the imagination of the 

 Poets formed their Tritons, Sirens, and Sea-gods, 

 with a human head, the body of a quadruped, antl 

 the tail of a fish. The Seal is possessed of a con- 

 siderable degree of intelligence, and may be tamed, 

 so as to become familiar. The female Seals produce 

 their young in the winter season, and seldom bring 

 more than two at a birth. It is said, that they suckle 

 their young ones for about the space of a fortnight on 

 the spot where they are born, after which they take 

 them out to sea, and instruct them in swimming and 

 seeking their food, which consists offish, sea-weeds, 

 &c. 



Falkland- Isle Seal (Phoca Australis). 



Remarkable for the structure of the hind-feet, the 

 webs of which extend far beyond the claws, which in 

 the fore feet are wanting. 



A small Seal, from Davis's Straits, supposed to be 

 PJioca Pucilla. 



Near this, on the right hand side, is seen, as de- 

 scending from a rock, the White, or Greenland Bear 

 (Ursus iVlaritimus). 



This is a far larger species than the common Bear, 

 and is said to have been sometimes found of the 

 length of twelve feet. The head and neck are of a 

 more lengthened form than in the common Bear, 

 and the body itself is longer in proportion. The 

 whole animal is white, the ears are round and small. 



