GUSROUS TOR, LAE VESK LIMOS. 151 
this he begins to crouch, and advances only when the 
seal’s head is down. The seal is one of the most wide- 
awake of all animals, and has the habit of throwing up 
its head quickly every few seconds to guard against 
danger. When its head is down upon the ice, its eyes 
are shut, avd it is said that in these brief intervals it 
takes its sleep. However this may be, the hunter, by 
carefully watching the seal’s movements, is able, with- 
out much difficulty, to get within about two hundred 
yards of it, but at closer quarters he is obliged to pur- 
sue other tactics. He now lies down at full length upon 
the ice, and here the real sport begins. 
The seal takes the Eskimo, who is able to talk seal 
perfectly, to be one of its kinsmen; and indeed there is 
a great deal of resemblance between the genera, for both 
are similarly clothed, and the Eskimo, living largely 
upon the flesh and oil of the seal, is similarly odorous. 
As the two lie there upon the ice, a most amusing’ sort 
of conversation is kept up between them. Seal makes 
a remark and flips his tail. Eskimo replies in a similar 
manner, making the gesture with his foot, and at the 
‘same time throws himself a little forward. Seal soon 
has something further to say, and again flips his tail. 
Eskimo replies as before, and closes up slightly farther 
the distance between them. 
When the seal’s head is down, the hunter, who ever 
keeps his eye on his prey, is able to approach still nearer 
by dragging himself forward upon his elbows. This 
manceuvring goes on for some time, until the distance 
between the performers has been reduced toa few yards, 
or sometimes to a very few feet. 
When near enough to make a sure shot, the Eskimo 
