ALASKA. 123 



one time, but I think its principle of locomotion will be found 

 to apply on land to all tbe rest of its genera. 



The scarcity of this species and of all its generic allies is 

 notable in tbe waters of the North Pacific as compared with 

 those of the circumpolar Atbmtic, where the bair-seals are 

 found ia immense numbers, giving employment every year to a 

 fleet of sailing and steam vessels which go forth from St. Jobn's, 

 Halifax, and elsewhere, fitted for seal-fishing, taking over 

 three hundred thousand of these animals each season, the 

 principal object being the oil rendered from them, the skins 

 having but small commercial value.* 



THE PUK-SEAL, (OALLOEHINUS UESINUS,) 



Whicbrepairstotheseislandstobreed, &c.,in numbers that seem 

 almost fabulous, is by far the highest organized of all the Pinni- 

 pedia, and,indeed,forthat matter, when land and water are fully 

 taken into account, there is no other auimal superior to it from, 

 a purely physical point of view ; and few creatures that can be 

 said to exhibit a higher order of instinct, approaching even 

 intelligence, belonging to the animal kingdom. 



Regarding a male six to seven years old, and full grown, 

 when he comes up from the sea in the spring on to his station 

 for the breeding-season, we have an animal that will measure 

 6J to 7^ feet in length, from tip of nose to end of tail, and 

 weighing at least 400 pounds, and sometimes as much, perhaps, 

 as 600. (?) The head, which in comparison with the immense 

 thick neck and shoulders, seems to be disproportionately small ; 

 but as we come to examine it we will find that it is mostly all 

 occupied by the brain ; the light frame-work of the skull sup- 

 ports an expressive pair of large bluish-hazel eyes, and a muz- 

 zle and jaws of nearly the same size and form observed in any 

 full-blooded Newfoundland dog, with the difference of having 

 no flabby, hanging lips ; the upper lips support a white and 

 yellowish-gray mustache, long, and, when not torn in combat, 

 luxuriant, composed of heavy stiff bristles. 



Observe it as it comes leisurely swimming on toward the 

 land ; how high above the water it carries its head, and how 

 deliberately it surveys the beach, after having stepped up on it ; 



* An excellent and, I have every reason to believe, correct descrip- 

 tion of this seal-fishery in the North Atlantic has heen published by Michael 

 Carroll, who writes in a manner indicative of great familiarity with the 

 business. 



