ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
55 
All the species of seals live in herds or families along the 
sea-shore, and are fond of sunning themselves, lying on the 
beach, rocks, or ice-banks. When they do this in situations 
in which they are apprehensive of danger, instinct has taught 
them to take the precaution of posting a sentinel to give alarm, 
when he sees anything to excite apprehension ; besides which, 
while sleeping, the seal raises its head at frequent intervals, 
and looks around as if to observe that all is safe within its 
range of vision. In places where they rarely experience dis- 
turbance, they sleep very profoundly and are easily surprised. 
They are in general very tenacious of life, and survive wounds 
which would kill most animals ; but are much more easily 
dispatched by blow r s on the head, especially on the nose, than 
any other animals. 
Seals* are very extensively diffused, for though they seem 
to prefer cold climates, there is scarcely any sea on the shores 
of which they are not occasionally to be met with. The old 
Dutch word “ robyn,” a seal, is still met with along the north- 
ern coast, in such terms as “ robin’s reef,” “ robin’s head,” 
&c. They are most numerous in the Polar and Arctic 
regions, furnishing the Esquimaux with food, clothing, and 
light. Langsdorff, in his voyage round the world, thus speaks 
of them : “ This animal forms such an essential article to the 
subsistence of the Esquimaux, that it may truly be said of 
them, they would not know how to live without them. Of its 
skin they make clothes, carpets, thongs, shoes, and household 
utensils ; nay their canoes mre made of a wooden skeleton 
with the skin of the seal stretched over it, * * * there is no 
part of the animal that is not turned to some use.” 
The hunting of seals is consequently prosecuted with great 
eagerness by the natives of the Polar latitudes. Parry gives 
an amusing description of the ceremonies attendant on a seal 
feast among the Esquimaux. He says, 4 4 Before cutting the 
animal up they pour into its mouth, as it lies on its back, a 
little water, and touch each flipper, and the middle of the 
