HABITS OF SEALS. \'3 



Trichechus Rosmarus. — One, an adult, was killed near 

 the island Fetlar, about ten miles from this, during the 

 summer of 1815, and another was observed a few days af- 

 terwards, not far from the same place. In the summer of, 

 I think, 1828, one frequented the bay of Balta Sound for a 

 few days, was fired at, but escaped. 



I shall now proceed with the observations I have farther 

 to communicate regarding our two resident species of Seal 

 — the common one and the Haff'-fish. In general habits there 

 is much similarity between them. Nothing can be more awk- 

 ward than their motions on land, nothing more elegant and 

 active in their native element. In swimming, the action of 

 the Great Seal is more graceful, easy, and less abrupt than 

 that of the small one. The natural unconstrained mode of 

 diving of both is by raising the head and shoulders a little, 

 and then sinking gently down. When alarmed, or eluding 

 a shot, they uniformly spring to a side. When on the surface 

 they use their fore-paws somewhat as a dog does his, at the 

 same time sculling with the hind paws : under water, the 

 former are laid along the side, the latter are kept together, 

 and the propulsive and other motions performed exactly as 

 a n*sh, darting with equal velocity through the water. Their 

 sight seems powerful and quick, whether in water or in air, 

 or in viewing objects in the one element from the other. 

 Their touch and hearing are sensitive. Their sense of smell- 

 ing, I am disposed to think, is not particularly acute, 

 though it does sometimes appear as if they had taken alarm, 

 when we attempt to get within shot of them, from the wind- 

 ward. It seems to be well ascertained that whales are 

 powerfully affected by the presence of certain substances, 

 such as musk, castor, cow-dung, juniper — perhaps, because 

 they emit an^odour somewhat similar to ambergris or 

 other of their own excretions. On throwing any of these 



