SEA 
tions where they were produced, unlefs compelled 
by neceffity or fear: but Seals frequently fhift 
their habitations, and are feen in myriads direfting 
their courfe from one continent to anofher. On 
the northern coafts of Greenland, they are ob- 
V ferved to retire in July, probably in purfuit of 
food, and to return again in September: but in 
March they make a fecond voyage, in order to 
caft their young; and return about the beginning 
of June, accoinpanied by their offspring; obferv- 
ing a certain time and track, like birds of paf- 
fage. When on thefe expeditions, vaft droves of 
them are feen making towards the north, taking 
fuch parts of the fea as are cleareft of ice, and 
failing forwards into thofe quarters where the hu- 
man fpecies cannot follow them. They are very 
fat when they leave the coafts j but extremely ema- 
ciated at their return^ 
Thefe animals produce two or three young at 
a time; which, for feme fhort fpace, are white and 
woolly. Autumn is their proper feafon of partu« 
rition : and they fuckle their progeny for fix or 
feven weeks, generally in cavernous rocks; after 
which they take to the fea. 
The young Seals are remarkably docile: they 
recognize and are obedient to the voice of their 
dams amidft the numerous clamours of the flock; 
and mutually afTift each other in cafes of danger or 
diftrefs. Thus early accuflomed to fubjeftion, 
they continue to live in fociety, hunt, and herd 
together; and have a variety of cries by which 
they encourage or purfue, exprefs apprehenfion or 
fuccefs. Their voices are faid fometimes to re- 
femble the bleatings of a flock of flieep, and at 
others to imitate the fiiriller notes of cats. Each 
Seal has it's own peculiar ftation along the fhore, 
where, when fatigued with fifhing, it repofes undi- 
fturbed by the reft. However, their fecial fpirit 
forfakes them whenever they begin to feel the in- 
fluences of natural defire : then they fight moft def- 
perately; and the vidlorious male always keeps a 
watchful eye over thofe females whom his prowefs 
has fecured. Their combats on fuch occafions 
are managed with much obftinacy, but yet great 
fairnefs; each has his antagonift; and all fight an 
equal battle, till one of them at length proves 
triumphant. 
The chief part of their food being fifli, they are 
extremely expert in their capture; and generally 
frequent thofe fituations to which herrings refort 
in ftioals, deftroying them by thoufands: but, 
when the herrings retire, the Seals are obliged to 
hunt after larger fiflies, and which are more capa- 
ble of evading their purfuers. In deep water, 
however, they are extremely fwift, diving with 
great rapidity; and, while the fpedator eyes the 
fpot at which they difappear, they are frequently 
feen to emerge at the diftance of above one hun- 
dred yards: the fmaller and weaker fifh there- 
fore have no other way of efcaping their devour- 
ers but by darting into the fliallows. 
Nor are thefe tyrants of the element in which 
they chiefly refide deftitute of courage even on 
land, except on thofe fliorcs where the inhabitants 
are numerous, and from whom they have expe- 
rienced frequent moleftations. Along the defart 
coafts, where they feldom meet with any inter- 
ruption from man, they are bold and intrepid, and 
even make a defperate refiftance; but a flight 
blow on the fnout immediately proftrates them, 
though they will endure a number of wounds 
elfewhete with apparent indifference. Where 
SEA 
they are feldom difturbed, they ufually fleepi ver^ 
foundly; and at fuch intervals the hunters gene- 
rally furprife them. Thofe Europeans who fre- 
quent the Greenland feas on the bufinefs of the 
whale-fifliery, furround them with nets, and de- 
ftroy them. But the Greenlander adopts a very 
diff^erent method : he paddles away in his little 
boat; and whenever he obferves one of thefe ani- 
mals afleep on the fide of a rock, darts his lance 
with unerring aim, and plunges it into the crea- 
ture's fide. The Seal inftantly leaps into the 
fea, and dives to the bottom; but the lance hav- 
ing a bladder affixed to one end, keeps it buoy- 
ant, and refifts the animal's defcent: it therefore 
rifes frequently to the furface of the water, and as 
often receives a ftroke from the Greenlander's 
oar, till it is at laft difpatched. 
The Seals of our climate are more vigilant and 
fearful, feldom fuffering the hunter to approach 
them. They are frequently feen on the rocks of 
the Cornifli coaft, baflcing in the fun , or on thofe 
inaccefllble clifl^s which are left dry by the ebbing 
of the tide: there they continue alternately raifing 
their heads, in order to obtain the earlieft notice 
of any approaching danger* The moft efFedual 
method therefore of deftroying them that can be 
adopted, is to fhoot them: but if they happen to 
efcape, they haften towards the fea, throwing up 
ftones and dirt behind them as they fcramble 
along, at the fame time exprefling their fears by 
the moft piteous moans ; and fliould they happen 
to be overtaken, they then make a moft vigorous 
defence with their feet and teeth. 
The fiefti of Seals is efteemed wholefome, and 
voyagers often make a hearty meal from it: but 
thefe creatures are generally killed for the fake of 
their fkins; and the oil which is drawn from their 
fat, one young Seal yielding about eight gallons. 
Their flcins are ufed for waiftcoats, covers for 
trunks, fliot-pouches, and many other conveni- 
ences. Thofe of Lake Baikal are difpofed of to 
the Chinefe, by whom they are dyed, and fold to 
the Mongals for facings to their fur-coats. 
Thefe animals conftitute the principal wealth 
of the Greenlanders, and fupply them with every 
necefl^ary of life. Their flefli was formerly con- 
fidered as a dainty at the tables of the great : for, 
among other extraordinary rarities at a feaft pro-* 
vided by Archbifliop Neville for King Edward IV. 
there were twelve Seals and porpoifes. 
Seals are indeed common on moft of the rocky 
ftiores of Great Britain and Ireland, efpecially on 
the northern coaftsj and they alfo frequent the 
coafts of Caernarvonftiire and Anglefea in Wales. 
The fubfequent extradl from a letter of Dr. Bor- 
lafe, dated in 1763, will farther elucidate their 
hiftory. 
' Seals,' fays this ingenious naturalift, * are 
feen in the greateft plenty on the fliores of Cor.n- 
wall, in the months of May, June, and July. 
They are of different fizes, fome as large as a 
moderate cow, and from that downwards to a 
fmall calf. 
* They feed on moft forts of fifh which they can 
mafter; and are feen fearching for their prey near 
fliore, where the whiftling-filh, wraws, and pol- 
lacks, refort. 
' They are very fwift in their proper depth of 
water; dive like a fliot, and rife in a trice at jdftv 
yards diftance j fo that weaker fiflies cannot avoid 
their tyranny, except in fliallow water. A perfon 
of the pariih of Sennan faw, not long fince, a 
Seal 
