LETTER XXni. 169 



is neither the Common Seal or Bon (pro- 

 nounced Bawn), or the Lesser Seal 

 or Bodach. This word sieni- / / ^^i ' i^^C' -'' ,*' *^ 



fies "old man/' though it is 

 used in other senses, as when ap- 

 plied to a scarecrow, a hobgoblin, a red rock codfish, &o. In this 

 instance it designates a peculiar dwarf seal, very much smaller 

 than the Common Seal, though consorting with it, and readily 

 giving the impression of its being merely the young of that 

 species. It is, however, now generally recognised as being quite 

 distinct. The minister of Colonsay assured me that he was well 

 acquainted with it, as were all the islanders. Mr James Wilson^ 

 also mentions that he frequently killed them of the size of a 

 Common Seal at three months old, though they had grey beards 

 and decayed teeth, that were few in number, and remarks that 

 they were not so shy as the Common Seal, nor so solitary as the 

 Tapvaist (Ta-heist). 



Towards the end of March last I received a fresh skin of a 

 recently killed young Seal. It was four feet long without the 

 flippers ; very nearly pure white, only slightly tinged with yellow ; 

 the hair so soft and long it might be called woolly — admirably 

 adapted for a lady's muff. My friend who sent it is a native of 

 the Hebrides, and kills many Seals annually. He is quite con- 

 versant with their habits, as he is also with those of the wild 

 fowl and other creatures which frequent that district, though not 

 scientifically or systematically. The following notice accompanied 

 the skin : — " I send you the skin of a Ta-beist, a young one of 

 ' Naturalist's Library, Vol. XXV. p. 158, note. 



