THE COMMON SEAL IN FRESH- WATER STREAMS 
AND LOCHS OP SCOTLAND. 
By J. A. Harvie-Brown, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., &c. 
IT is well known that seals (Phoca vitulina) in many countries 
ascend fresh-water rivers in pursuit of their favourite prey — 
salmon and sea-trout — and even permanently exist in fresh-water 
areas. Yet it is curious to find how little notice has been taken 
of the fact by our naturalists, in relation to British waters, none 
of the authorities which I have been able to consult having taken 
any special n'otice of the matter since the days of the Old Statis- 
tical Account," and of Professor Fleming, dating respectively 1793 
and 1822. ("Philosophy of Zoology," vol. ii. p. 82.) I have only 
given special attention to the matter within the last few years, but 
have kept notes on the subject since about 1879, referring to 
Loch Awe. 
In connection with this curious distribution of the common 
seal, I will proceed to treat the subject chronologically. The 
earliest notice ^ of the seal frequenting Loch Awe in Argyleshire, 
and coming up the rapid River Awe for that purpose, is contained 
in the "Old Statistical Account " (vol. vi., p. 260), where it is 
stated : — " The seal comes up from the ocean, through a very 
rapid river, in quest of this fish [the salmon] ; and retires to the 
sea at the approach of winter." The date of this statement is 
1793. We again find this quoted by Fleming in his "Philosophy 
of Zoology" (vol. ii., p. 2)2 ^ footnote), dating 1822, without remark, 
and again, also without remark, in his " History of British 
Animals " (p. 17). Since that time I have not been able to find 
a pubhshed account of this somewhat singular departure in the 
habits of the seal — at least, as regards Scotland — in any w^ork de- 
voted to British mammals. It becomes, therefore, rather interesting 
to find what was then recorded as fact, occurring, beyond dispute, 
at the present day. In 1879, as was related to me, "a large old seal" 
frequented Loch Awe between Inverawe Point and the island 
' I do not find anything concerning this'in Pennant (1768), Lightfoot''s Flora 
Scotica (1777), nor in his later editions. 
A 
