THE HARBOR SEAL 



with their heads above water, like so many 

 black dogs, evidently delighted with the 

 sounds. For half an hour, or, indeed, for any 

 length of time I chose, I could fix them to the 

 spot; and when I moved along the water's 

 edge, they would follow me with eagerness, 

 like the Dolphins, who, it is said, attended 

 Arion, as if anxious to prolong the enjoy- 

 ment." It is related that when the bell is 

 rung for divine service in the church of Hoy 

 in Orkney, all the seals gather about the 

 neighboring shore, an incident, however, that 

 illustrates their enquiring, rather than their 

 religious, spirit.' 



I myself have attempted the Arion role by 

 singing " Mj Coimtry, 'tis of thee " without 

 producing any impression on the seals, favor- 

 able or unfavorable. Perhaps they did not 

 recognize my efforts as music, and it is possi- 

 ble that I should have adopted the methods 

 used by a naturalist in Jamaica who, it is said, 

 when a boy, wishing to entice some snakes 

 from beneath a rock by the power of music, 

 marched around it beating a tin can and sing- 

 ing his favorite hymn, " Hark my soul, it is 

 the Lord." 



In exceptionally calm weather, when there 

 185 



