THE LEOPAJtD SEAL. 167 



mournful bleating. A very interesting specimen of the Leopard Seal is on exhibi- 

 tion at Woodward's Grardens. This little favorite has been a resident of that pop- 

 ular and interesting resort for over three years, and, although a female, as we were 

 informed, is honored with the title of "Commodore." The animal generally makes 

 its appearance close at hand whenever within hearing, if called by name, and when 

 its keeper appears on the lawn, to feed the pelicans, black swans, and other aquatic 

 birds, which are its companions in the artificial pond, the Commodore does not 

 wait to be invited, but, knowing as well as its keeper the meal -hour, is on the 

 watch,, and the moment the food -bearer is seen, the little creature — which is not 

 over four feet long — lifts itself out of the water over the curb -stones and waddles 

 quickly to its master's side, then holding up its head with mouth wide open, 

 receives the choice morsels of fish which drop from his hand. 



Leopard Seals are very easily captured when on shore, as a single blow with 

 a club upon the head will dispatch them. The Indians about Puget Sound take 

 them in nets made of large hemp -line, using them in the same manner as seines, 

 drawing them around beaches when the rookery is on shore. They are taken by 

 the whites for their oil and skins, but the Indians and Esquimaux make great 

 account of them for food. The last -mentioned eat them, as they do nearly every 

 article of sustenance, with or without cooking, but the natives of Puget Sound 

 singe them before a fire until the hair is consumed and the skin becomes crisp, after 

 which it is cut up and cooked as may best suit their relish. 



