188 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
ANIMALS OF THE 
fCOPYUIUIIT SEOBRBD.j 
SEAL FA MIL Y. — Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
the Arctic winter the sea remains frozen over for many 
months, ami a different kind of hunting has to he fol- 
lowed. "When a Seal has "been under water for a long 
time it must come to the surface to breathe. If there is 
no natural opening through the ice it must make one 
from below, and these seal-holes or blow-holes are well 
known to the Esquimaux, who take advantage of them 
in hunting the animal. They know that sooner or later 
the Seal must come up to "blow,"' as the sailors say. 
Time is not so valuable in those icy regions as it is with 
us, so the Esquimaux " takes his time.** Clad in the 
skin of several seals, he goes out to hnnt others, his 
weapon being a peculiar spear attached to one end of a 
strong cord, made of seals" sinews, the other end of 
which is usually fastened to the hunter's body. lie puts 
up a snow shelter to protect him from the winds, takes 
his place upon a snowseat. and waits. When the Seal 
comes up to breathe, in goes the spear with unerring 
aim, and then comes the struggle to decide whether the 
Seal shall drag the Esquimaux into the hole, or the Es- 
quimaux shall pull the Seal out of it. The hunter is so 
skilled iu bracing himself, and understands the matter 
so well, that he is almost always the conqueror, though 
stories are told of an opposite result. When the Seal- 
holes are covered by deep snow they are very difficult to 
find. Here the dogs are of service, and by their aid, and 
by probing with a spear, the position of the hole is 
found. The hunter does not remove the snow from over 
the hole, a3 that would alarm the Seal, but he waits and 
listens, and when he hears the breathing of the Seal 
darts his spear down through the snow. Very much like 
shooting in the dark, you will Ihink, but long practice, 
and the knowledge that life with them depends upon 
Seal, make these people so expert that they rarely miss. 
Seal.- are very intelligent, and are readily domesticated, 
when they show a great deal of attachment to persons, 
and can be taught many tricks. 
THE HAP.P SEAL, 
the central, upper animal, is one of great beauty. It is 
abundant upon the coasts of Greenland and Iceland, and, 
unlike the common Seal, does not often go upon the 
laud, but prefers floating ice. Its color is a very delicate, 
grayish white, upon which are two bands of a deep 
black, which run along the body and unite over the back, 
forming a marking resembling somewhat in shape an 
ancient harp. This peculiar mark is not seen in perfec- 
tion until the animal is five years old. At the left of the 
Harp-Seal we have the 
SEA-ELEPHANT, 
or Elephant Seal, as it is sometimes called. They are 
huge fellows, having been caught as large as thirty feet 
in length, and very productive of oil. They belong to 
the Southern Ilemisphere. and move north or south, ac- 
cording to the season. They are very fond of going in- 
land and hunting their food in fresh water. They arc 
called Sea-Elephants because they are enabled to elon- 
gate their noses in such a remarkable manner that it re- 
minds one somewhat of the trunk of an elephant. When 
attacked, these fellows make up horrible faces, and if 
this does not drive away the enemy— why, tin y _'" away 
themselves, as, notwithstanding their huge bodies, they 
are poor fighters. 
THE SEA-LEOPARD. 
or Leopard Seal, so far as known, is also peculiar to the 
Southern Hemisphere. It is mainly remarkable for hav- 
ing no risible ear, and for the white spots upon its gray 
body. Although it has long been known, there is bnt 
little to be told about it. 
THE SEA-LION. 
This is a regular sea-monster, which grows to the 
length of fifteen feet, and is very common ou the Pacific 
coast. It is a very curious si^ht to see these huge fellows 
wriggle, themselves out of the wafer and on to the slip- 
pery rocks. When their hair gets dry it is brown, al- 
ihoirjh they look black when wet. I have seen dozens 
and dozens of them upon the rocky islands of the Pacifi* 
sunning themselves. Every now and then they will 
throw up their heads and give a cry, which is no doubt 
musical to them, but to us sounds very much like a howl 
of distress. They are not very ferocious, but will fight 
to defend their young. I was once out sailing on the 
Pacific, and stopped at a large rocky island about thirty 
miles from shore. We surprised a party of Sea-Lions, 
which rolled otT into the water with great dignity. But 
one of the sailors was spry enough to catch a very young 
one before its mother could take it to the water. Such a 
funny, chubby thing as it was, not much larger than a 
sucking-pig, and about as fat 1 It seemed strange that 
such a helpless little lump could ever grow to become a 
monstrous Sea-Lion. After much persuasion, the sailor 
let it go, and I hope it found its mother. Don't yon ? 
THE WALRUS. 
This is the central figure in our menagerie, and one of 
the most interesting. You will know it it" you ever meet 
it by its enormous eye-teeth. As I have taken up much 
space in telling yon about the other animals iu the mena- 
gerie, I propose to let you tell me all about the Walrus. 
Just read the article headed "Menagerie Prizes," and 
xon will know all about it. The Doctor. 
