56 
ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
belly, with lamp-black and oil. The origin of this ceremony 
is unknown, but from the seriousness with which it is per- 
formed it seems to be one of high importance.” The 
Greenlanders connect strange ideas of honor and glory with 
the chase of the seal. They will expose themselves to the 
greatest dangers, wandering over the waves for days together 
without any other guide than the sun and moon, and as they 
deem it disgraceful to leave any part of their game behind 
them, they sometimes overload their limber, crazy boats, and 
disdaining to save their lives by relinquishing their highly- 
prized acquisitions, proudly perish with them in the waves. 
The Common Seal ( Phoca vitulina) is abundant on the 
shores of the lower St. Lawrence and northern parts of the 
sea coast generally — being occasionally met with on inland 
waters connected with the sea. One was taken on the ice in 
Lake Ontario, near Cape Vincent, in 1823-4, and one was 
captured in Lake Champlain in 1810, probably having 
reached there by way of the St. Lawrence and Richelieu 
river. They may occasionally be seen in winter opposite 
Montreal in openings in the ice disporting themselves ; and 
a fine young specimen was given to that city by the officers 
of the “ Shandon,” taken off the ice' in the Gulf in 1864. It 
is to be regretted that this specimen died, probably from want 
of a sufficient depth of water, and the too eager curiosity of 
the people. 
The Hooded Seal QStemmatopus cristatus) is found on the 
shores of Newfoundland and Greenland. A fine specimen 
was captured at East Chester, New York, a few years ago. 
It occasionally finds it way up the St. Lawrence. This seal 
has a peculiar appendage to its head, formed by the exten- 
sion of the skin in front, which can be elevated or depressed 
at pleasure. No satisfactory idea has been given for the use 
of this hood, it being supposed by some to be a protection 
for the eyes, and by others as a reservoir for air when the 
animal is under water; but DeKay remarks, very truly, 
