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REMARKS ABOUT SEALS. 



writes a very long and interesting article, chiefly on the 

 seals of Greenland ; and on opening some of these animals 

 stones and gravel were found in the stomach, whilst similar 

 stones were found scattered about the spots on shore which 

 the seals frequented. The stones, if small, could no doubt 

 be passed through the intestinal tract ; but if as large as in 

 the specimen before us, they could not then be got rid of, 

 and not even by vomiting, although the structure of the 

 stomach would easily allow vomiting to occur. But I have 

 no evidence that it does. 



This habit of stone-swallowing has also been noted in 

 a species of dolphin, the Beluga catodon, and I have also 

 evidence that porpoises swallow them. 



Mr. Bland Sutton, Lecturer on Comparative Anatomy at 

 the Middlesex Hospital, and Pathologist to the London 

 Zoological Society, informs me that in all sea-lions which 

 have been examined by him after death a varying quantity 

 of stones has been found in the stomach. Ho says, " In one 

 case I saw two gallons of small rounded pebbles ; but I 

 have never seen them in the Phocm." 



Professor Lloyd Morgan, of Bristol University College, 

 who lived at the Cape for some years, has kindly informed 

 me that a friend of his has seen Cape seals toss up stones 

 and catch thom in their mouth. 



With all this evidence before us, we cannot, I think, 

 refuse to admit as a fact that the stones are swallowed by 

 these creatures, and done so designedly. The stones could 

 not get into the stomach accidentally, as from being en- 

 tangled in or adhering to their food. 



The next point, why? With what object they do it is 

 not so easily answered. Are we willing to accept the pretty 

 Cape legend ? and if so, we must give seals credit for more 

 than ordinajy intelligence — chiefly instinctive in animals ; 



