312 
THE PEDRO SHOAL. 
shore. They immediately succeeded in heading a 
‘ Bull/ or Male Seal, both big and burly, and killed 
him. He proved to be an aged patriarch, with teeth 
nearly worn to the stumps, and a hide gashed and 
seamed with scars, got in many a fierce fight ; — and 
about ten feet in length. 
‘‘ In the scramble which the Seal makes to regain 
the water, nothing is to be remarked but the violence 
and impatience with which he jerks his body for- 
w'ard ; but when he plunges from the shore into the 
sea, it is no small treat to see the suddenness with 
which the uncouth animal, so unwieldy and helpless 
on land, becomes gracefully alert in the ocean. The 
command with which he strikes through the water, 
the velocity with which he cleaves the flood, the ease 
with which he winds the mazes of the rocks, and 
dashes forward into the hidden recesses of the deep, 
are beautifully interesting in a creature looking so 
essentially a quadruped. When the boat is afloat 
again, the Seals come trooping out to reconnoitre. 
At a depth of about three feet they paddle about, 
gazing up through the clear liquid with an expression 
of countenance beaming with curiosity and intelli- 
gence. They dodge around the boat, occasionally 
ascending to the surface, to renew their inspirations 
of air, and to look upon their island home, to as- 
certain whether they may return thither and be at 
rest. 
“ A grown-up cub about four feet long had been 
taken by the people. One Seal was observed more 
persevering in her watchfulness and assiduity to re- 
gain the shore, than the rest. This was conjectured 
