EEMARKS ABOUT SEALS. 297 



01' may wo look for some process which the stones subserve 

 ill the digestive oconouiy, such as triturating the iish which 

 are swallowed down almost whole? In this case they 

 might correspond, in some measure, to the gizzard-stones of 

 many birds. Or is the whole thing nothing more than a 

 mischievous and playful habit ? 



When I examined the "ballast-bag" before us, a few 

 days ago, I observed that all the stones I could see, without 

 actually turning them out, were rounded and smooth, and 

 so could easily move about in the stomach in its natural 

 |)osition and condition. Bearing this in mind, and thinking 

 it veiy liJioly tliat these stones remain in these animals for 

 a good length of time, I wrote to Mr. Sutton this question, 

 " Did the stones you found in the sea-lions belong to the 

 locality, say the London Gardens, or elsewhere, wherever 

 the animals had been living at the time of death ? or did 

 they come from abroad ? " His reply is very significant. 

 " In all cases the stones found in the stomachs of the sea- 

 lions were new to the locality. They must have been in 

 the stomach in some cases for years. All wore beautifully 

 smooth and rounded." 



Now with this evidence, imperfect as it is, before us, I 

 think we must set aside the Cape legend, and come to look 

 upon the habit of stone swallowing as one which has a true 

 physiological basis. 



Seals seize their prey greedily, and swallow it rapidly, 

 their trencliant teeth not being adapted for much mastica- 

 tion ; but the presence of a number of round smooth bodies 

 in the stomach, such as these pebbles, would assist very 

 materially in breaking up tlie food. 



I have no better suggestion to offer at present anyhow, and 

 I must therefore, whilst thanking you, ladies and gentlemen, 

 for your patient hearing, leave the question in your hands. 



