BOTTLE-NOSED SEAL. 
203 
two animals of a kind different from any they had 
before seen ; but, on a nearer approach, they 
proved to be two of these seals, which had been 
goring each other with their teeth, till both were 
completely covered with blood. 
They are of a lethargic disposition, and when 
at rest are not easily disturbed. It is not difficult 
to kill them ; being, in general, from their slug- 
gish and unwieldy motions, incapable either ot 
escaping or resisting. A sailor was, however, one 
day, carelessly employed in skinning one of the 
young, when the female from whom he had taken 
it, cameTupon him unperceived, and gettinghis 
head into her mouth, tore his skull so dreadfully, 
that he died in a few days afterwards. 
It has been observed, that each herd places at a 
distance some of the males as centinels, who never 
fail to give the alarm, if any thing hostile ap- 
proaches. The noise they make for this purpose 
is very loud, and may be heard at a considerable 
distance. Their usual voice is a kind of loud 
grunting ; or sometimes a snorting like horses in 
full vigour. The females produce two young 
ones in the winter, which they suckle for some 
time, and carry on their backs when they swim. 
These, when first brought forth, are about the 
size of a full grown common seal. 
Lord Anson's people killed many of them, in 
the island of Juan Fernandez, for food. They 
called their flesh beef, to distinguish it from that 
of the common seal, which they denominated 
lamb. The hearts and tongues were excellent 
eating : and, as they thought, preferable even to 
iho«£ of the ox. 
