106 



MAMMALIA. 



along in a sombre sky, the great black clouds whicli predict 

 torrents of raiu. Then it is that they leave the sea in crowds, and 

 come and play about on the shore, in the midst of the fuiy of the 

 elements. They are at home in the tempest, it is in these crises 

 of nature that they give full play to all their faculties, and to 

 all the activity of which they are capable. When the weather is 

 fine they fall asleep, and resign themselves lazily to the dolce far 

 niente. 



Seals feed principally on fishes, which they catch cleverly ; to 



Fig. 27 — Seals (J'/toca vituluui). 



these some of them add Mollusks, Crustaceans, and, when thej' 

 have the chance, some say aquatic birds. 



Some grave authors affii'm that it is their custom, before they 

 take to the water, to swallow a quantity of pebbles, which serve 

 them as ballast, as in a ship ; this excess of weight they disgorge 

 when they come on shore. If this is not true, it is at least a happy 

 thought : se von e vero, e bene trocato. [At all events, such pebbles 

 are found in the stomach of the Walrus.] 



Seals commonly swim with the head nnd shoidders out of water ; 

 it is not astonishing that in this position, and seen from a distance, 



