DOCILITY OF THE SEAL. 
407 
even contriving to creep through an open window, and to gain access to the warm fireside. 
The end of this poor creature was a sadly tragic one, and need not be narrated here. 
In the same work is a very spirited account of another Seal adventure, in which the 
ludicrous element prevails, although it might have furnished material for tragedy. 
A number of men had gone in a boat to the Sound of Achil, and having seen a Seal and 
her young one reposing on the sand, had borrowed an old musket, and set off to attack them. 
They succeeded in securing the cub before it could reach the sea, and tossed it into their boat. 
The mother Seal, however, inspired by maternal love, swam after the boat which contained 
her offspring, and could not be deterred from following the captors in the hope of rescuing her 
child. The men attempted several times to shoot the poor creature, but their rickety weapon 
would not explode until it had been several times futilely snapped. At last, however, it per- 
formed its duty, and lodged the ball in the Seal’ s head. 
The body was immediately lifted into the boat, when, to the horror of the captors, the 
animal, which was only stunned, recovered its senses, and began a most furious attack upon its 
enemies, floundering about the boat with such energy that she nearly overset it, and snapping 
SKELETON AND TEETH OF COMMON SEAL. 
fiercely at the legs of her antagonists. The contest soon assumed a serious aspect, for the 
teeth of the angry animal were urged with such fury that they cut deeply into the oars with 
which her attacks were warded off, and if assistance had not speedily arrived, the result might 
have been of a very tragic nature. A gentleman, however, that happened to be sailing near 
the scene of combat, was attracted by the curious spectacle of a boat’ s crew engaged in such 
strange evolutions, and directing his course towards them, ended the combat by a rifle bullet. 
Of late days, performing Seals have come into vogue under various titles, among which 
the “Talking Fish” is well known. These clever animals have been taught to perform sundry 
ingenious feats, requiring not only an intelligent mind to comprehend, but an activity of body 
to execute, apparently incompatible with the conformation of the animal. 
They will bark at the word of command, their phocine tongue being very freely translated 
into the language of any country in which they may happen to be ; they will rotate in their 
water tub with singular velocity ; they will offer to kiss any one who is not afraid of their 
large wet hairy mouth, and in fine will go through many similar performances with great skill 
and seeming enjoyment of the attention paid to them by their visitors. For they are wonder- 
fully fond of admiration, these Seals, and although very shy to those with whom they are 
unacquainted, and before they have become accustomed to the sight of strangers, are highly 
appreciative of the kind words and caresses which fall to their lot while they are going through 
their tricks. 
Even the Seals at the Zoological Gardens, who are not put through any particular training, 
are not without their little coquetries with regard to the ever-changing circle of visitors who 
stand around the railings which inclose their habitations, while their demonstrations of affec- 
tion towards the keeper who attends to their wants are quite lively. They recognize him at a 
considerable distance, and shooting rapidly through the water, fling themselves upon the bank, 
scuttle to the iron fence and rear themselves against the rails in impatient greetings, long 
