THE GREY SEAL— THE HARP SEAL 163 



creature. It is often kept in captivity, in which condition it thrives 

 well, and shows almost as much affection and intelligence as a dog; 

 the exhibition of performing Seals and Sea-Lions at the Hippodrome 

 must be fresh in the minds of many readers of this book. 



THE GREY SEAL 



(Halichcerus grypus) 



This is the only other common British Seal, and, though less numerous on the 

 whole, it replaces the ordinary animal in some places, as on the Scilly Islands and 

 parts of the Irish coast. It is much bigger than the Common Seal, reaching a 

 length of eight, nine, or even ten feet, and a weight of over forty stone, in adult 

 males ; females grow little longer than Common Seals, but are much heavier. The 

 muzzle in this Seal is longer than in the Common species, and its coat less spotted ; 

 in fact many specimens are uniform grey above, and a few males all black. The 

 light grey crown of the head is very characteristic in almost all specimens. 



This Seal is wilder and fiercer than the Common Seal, and frequents dangerous 

 and wave-beaten localities ; the pup is born with a white woolly coat, and does not 

 change this or take to the water for some weeks. Although found in the northern 

 regions of both worlds, the Grey Seal is not so widely distributed as the Common 

 species. 



THE RINGED SEAL 



(Phoca hispida) 



The Ringed Seal, which is only a rare straggler to our coasts, is very similar in 

 appearance to the Common Seal, but considerably smaller, being only about five 

 feet long. It is a characteristically Arctic species, remaining in the high North all 

 the winter, and furnishing an important part of the food of the Eskimos ; indeed, it 

 is believed to be the most northern animal inhabitant of the globe. In the winter 

 it makes breathing-holes in the ice, and in spring brings forth its white-clad pup on 

 the floes. The adult males are remarkable for their very strong, unpleasant smell. 



THE HARP SEAL 



{Phoca groenlandicd) 



The Harp Seal is another Arctic species which visits us occasionally ; it is about 

 the size of the Common Seal, and shows a very remarkable colour distinction 

 between the sexes ; the male is cream-coloured, with a black face and a broad black 

 band down each side, while the female is grey; she is also considerably smaller 

 than the male. 



