BOTTLE-NOSED SEAL. 
SOI 
dive, after having breathed., they, in the maimer of 
gome other sea animals, whirl themselves round 
like a wheel. They cut through the waves with 
great rapidity, frequently swimming at the rate of 
seven or eight miles an hour. Their cubs arc as 
sportive as puppies ; they have mock fights, and 
tumble one another on the ground. The male 
parent looks on with a sort of complacency, parts 
them, licks and kisses them, and seems to take a 
greater affection to the victor than to the other. 
On Bering's island these animals were found in 
such numbers as to cover the wholejshore : and 
travellers were obliged, for their own safety, to 
leave the sands and level country, and go over the 
hills and rocky parts. . It is, however, remarkable, 
that they only frequent that part of the coast 
which is towards Kamtschatka. In the beginning 
of June they retire to the southward, to bring 
forth their young ; and return towards the end of 
August. They seldom produce more than a single 
young one, which they nurse for three months. 
The flesh of the old males is rank, but that of 
the females and young is said to be exceedingly 
good. The skins of the young ones, cut out of the 
bellies of the females, are in esteem for clothing, 
and are nearly as valuable as those of the old 
animals. 
Bottle-nosed seal. 
The male of this species measures from fifteen 
to twenty feet in length ; and is distinguished from 
the female by a large snout, projecting five or six 
inches below the end of the upper jaw. This 
snout the animal inflates when he is irrated, giving 
it thus the appearance of an arched or hooked nose. 
The skin is scattered over with a rust-coloured hair. 
The feet are short, and the hinder ones so webbed 
vol. r. © d 
