1876.] Animal Humor. : 267 
interested in observing its skill in disposing of an unsizable fish. 
Unfortunately, the seal to thrive in confinement must be well 
fed; hence in its best condition it becomes lethargic, and there is 
too great a discount on its natural playfulness. They romp and 
tumble with one another, and have sham contests. But I once 
saw a seal that had dined to its satisfaction, and had one fish to 
spare, which was a menhaden. Feeling well after a good meal, 
it was in excellent disposition. It actually began to play with 
that remaining fish. It would seize the fish in its mouth, and, 
by means of that singularly springy neck, would with a jerk send 
it six or seven feet high in the air, and would utter a bark of 
delight, not unlike a pup, when the prey would fall splashing 
into the water. Then in bubbling glee our sea-dog would toss it 
into the air again. Then there were certain divings, and splash- 
ings, and bodily contortions, and shakings of the insensate fish as 
if it were alive, — actions all indicative of high animal enjoy- 
ment. I should think that this sport continued not less than ten 
minutes, when the animal probably was somewhat tired. 
The question arises as to the kind of fun, that is, its mental 
character. Was it like that of a boy tossing and catching his 
ball, a simple exercise of skill? Or was it like the gambol of a 
lamb or a kid, mere animal gush? I think it was like neither. 
It had in it a tinge of malicious exultation, the strong making 
game of the weak. How a cat will purr while it tosses the poor 
mouse, still alive, and perhaps even unhurt. There is in this a 
grim complacency, what seems to me a sort of vicious enjoyment, 
if not of devilish delight. The boys had their fun, though it was 
death to the frogs. I think, too, that all this is germane to the 
experience of certain natures sodden with chronic irony. There 
can be no doubt that carnivorous animals enjoy the excitement 
of pursuit, and preéminently the success of capture. As a rule, 
too, it is probably true that while hunger is unallayed no time is 
lost in sporting with the captive prey ; also generally no captures 
are attempted except when necessity prompts. But some ani- 
mals will capture and destroy sometimes for no other reason than 
that there is opportunity to do it, and they find fun in so doing. 
Alas, that, in this regard, in most unmanly preéminence stands 
man himself ! 
here is an animal also of thin skull and large brain capacity, 
noted for its puffing and blowing as it gambols in the sea. This 
8 the porpoise, Phoceena communis. Twenty years ago it was 
often seen in Raritan Bay. To us the sight was full of interest. 
