SEALS. 147 



years, frequenting always the same reach of shore. That great 

 Grey Seals breed also even far in among the Inner Hebrides 

 seems to be perfectly certain from notes in our possession, but 

 it is quite open to doubt if such an occurrence as the birth of 

 a Grey Seal has ever taken place anywhere upon the coast of 

 the mainland " of Argyllshire. 



On the southern and western coasts of Ireland these Seals 

 appear to retain their hold more than elsewhere, and they like- 

 wise seem to congregate in larger parties than in most other 

 places, at least a dozen having been seen together. Even 

 here, however, their numbers appear to be diminishing 

 steadily, although the persecuted creatures have, fortunately 

 for themselves, now become so shy and wary as to make it 

 very difficult to approach within range. A large specimen 

 shot by A. G. More, on a rocky island off the coast of Con- 

 nemara, in 1869, measured exactly eight feet in length, and 

 weighed close upon four hundred pounds; but Scottish 

 examples are stated to reach fully nine feet from the tip of 

 the nose to the extremity of the hind-flippers. 



Habits. — In habits the Grey Seal is essentially an insular 

 and oceanic species, generally associating in pairs, although 

 occasionally, as we have seen to be the case on the Irish 

 coasts, consorting in small parties. In the Hebrides they take 

 up their quarters in the most exposed situations ; and produce 

 their young in September or October, or even as late as 

 November. When first born, the young Seal is clothed with 

 white hair, which is retained till such time as the creature is 

 able to take to the water, when the adult dress is assumed. 

 In Scandinavia, on the other hand, it is stated that the breed- 

 ing season is not till February ; a difference which Bell sug- 

 gests may be due to the difference in the climate of this region 

 from Britain, although it does not appear to us that this ex- 

 planation is adequate. 



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