PIED SEAL* 
193 
floating island. They remained two weeks on 
this frail territory. The heat, which diminished 
its bulk, and also its prominent surface, render- 
ed their situation more alarming every moment. 
In the anguish of hunger they gnawed the flesh 
off their arms. At last they embraced each other* 
resolved to plunge together into the sea, and thus 
end their misery, for they had no prospect of 
escaping. The fatal resolution was just made* 
when they discovered a sail. One of them strip- 
ped off his shirt, and suspended it on the muzzle 
of his gun. The signal was observed from the 
vessel, which was a whale fisher. A boat was 
put out to assist them, and by this providential 
circumstance they were saved, from otherwise in- 
evitable destruction. 
The Icelanders fancy that seals are the offspring 
of Pharaoh and his host, who, they believe, were 
transformed into these animals in the Red Sea 8 
;v Pied seal. 
This species, which resembles in manners tha 
common seal, and like that is easily tamed, ig 
found on the coasts of the Adriatic, and visits 
the British shores. It sometimes grows to th© 
length of seven feet and a half. 
The principal difference between this and the 
former species, consists in its having the nose long 
and taper ; the fore feet inclosed in a membrane* 
but very distinct ; the claws long and straight % 
the hind feet very broad; five distinct toes, with 
the claws just extending to the borders of the 
membrane, which expands in the form of a cres- 
cent. Its colours are black and white* variously 
disposed. 
VOIu I« 
JF- 
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