’ COMMON SEAL,' 
184 
sn the heart is open. Those who are in the least 
acquainted with anatomy, know, that the veins 
muting bring* their blood to the heart, which 
sends it into the lungs, and from thence it returns 
to the heart again, to be distributed through the 
whole body. Animals, however, before they are 
born, make no use of their lungs ; and therefore 
their blood, without entering their lungs, takes 
a shorter passage through the very partition of 
the heart, from one of its chambers to the other ; 
thus passing from the veins directly into those 
vessels that drive it through the whole frame. 
But the moment the animal is brought forth, the 
passage through the partition, which passage is 
called the foramen ovale, closes up, and conti- 
nues closed for ever ; for the blood then takes 
its longest course through the lungs to return 
to the other chamber of the heart again. Now 
the seal's heart resembles that of an infant in the 
womb, for the foramen ovale never closes ; and 
although the blood of this animal commonly 
circulates through the lungs, yet it can circulate 
without their assistance, as was observed above, 
by a shorter way. From hence, therefore, we 
see the manner in which this animal is adapted 
for continuing under water ; for, being under 
no immediate necessity of breathing, the vital 
motions are still carried on while it continues at 
ihe bottom ; so that it can pursue its ptey in that 
element, and yet enjoy all the delights and advan- 
tages of ours. 
The water is the seal's usual habitation, and 
whatever fish it can catch its food. Though not 
equal in instinct and cunning to some terrestrial 
animals, it is greatly superior to the mute tenants 
of that element in which it chiefly resides. Al- 
though it can continue for several minutes under 
water, yet it is not able, like fishes, to remain 
