ORDER CARNASSIER. 505 



combat carried on with their paws, which ended by the 

 weakest or most timid leaving the field in possession of his 

 antagonist. 



With the exception of some species of the Simiae, there 

 is scarcely any wild animal more easily tamed than the 

 Phoca, or capable of a stronger degree of attachment. One 

 of the individuals before-mentioned, showed, at first, some 

 degree of shyness, and fled at the show of caresses ; but, in 

 a few days, his fear was totally at an end. He soon dis- 

 covered the nature and intent of such movements, and his 

 confidence became unbounded. This same Phoca was shut 

 up with two little Dogs, who used to mount upon his back, 

 bark at, and seemed to bite him ; and although sports of 

 this kind were at variance with his habits and nature, he 

 soon learned to appreciate their motive, and to take plea- 

 sure in them. He never replied to them, but by gentle 

 strokes of his paw, which seemed rather intended to excite 

 than to repress them. If the Dogs escaped, he would fol- 

 low them, though walking over ground covered with stones 

 and mud must have been a painful effort to him ; and 

 when cold weather came, he and the Dogs would lie closely 

 together, to keep each other warm. 



The fawn-coloured individual was peculiarly attached to 

 the person who had the care of him ; he soon learned to 

 know this person at any distance within his range of vision. 

 He would hold his eyes fixed upon him while he was pre- 

 sent, and run forward the moment he saw him approach. 

 Hunger, to be sure, entered for something into the affec- 

 tion he testified towards his keepers. The continual at- 

 tention which he paid to every motion connected with the 

 gratification of his appetite had made him remark, at the 

 distance of sixty paces, the place which contained his food, 

 although it was devoted to several other uses, and though 

 it was entered but twice a day for the purpose of procuring 

 his nutriment. If he was at liberty when his keeper ap- 



