190 
COMMON SEAL* 
sometimes too roughly used. A seal that was zx* 
hibited in London, in the year 1750, answered 
to the call of his keeper and attended to what- 
ever he was commanded to do. He w ould take 
food from the man's hand, crawl out of the water, 
and, when ordered, stretch himself out at full 
length on the ground. He w'ould thrust out his 
neck and appear to kiss the keeper, as often as 
the man pleased ; and, when he was directed, 
would again return into the water. The follow- 
ing is an interesting communication on this subject 
from Dr. Hamilton of Ipswich : ^ Some time 
ago; a farmer of Aberdown, a town on the Fife- 
shire side of the banks of the Frith of Forth, in 
going out among the rocks to catch lobsters and 
crabs, discovered a young seal, about two feet 
and a half long, which he brought home. He 
offered him some pottage and milk, which the ani- 
mal greedily devoured. It was fed in this manner 
for three days ; when the man’s wife, considering 
• «/ * # .. p 
it an intruder in her family, would not suffer it 
to be kept any longer. Taking some men of the 
town along with him for the purpose, he threw it 
into the sea ; but notwithstanding all their endea- 
vours, it persisted in returning to them. It w r a§ 
agreed that the tallest of the men should walk into 
the water as far as he could, and having thrown 
the animal in, they should hide themselves behind 
a rock at some distance. This was accordingly 
done ; but the affectionate creature returned from 
the water, and soon discovered them hi their 
hiding place. The farmer again took it home, 
where he kept it for some time ; but at length 
growing tired of it, he had it killed for the sake of 
its skin. 
The seals are taken generally in October, or the 
beginning of November. The hunters, provided 
with torches and bludgeons, enter the mouths of 
