460 
THE SEAL. 
when in the water it performs many antics, 
often balancing itself erect and holding its 
paw over its eyes, as if to look about it. It 
is found in the Northern Pacific Ocean, and 
has sometimes been called the sea-ape.” 
“Is it not possible,” said Miss Taylor, 
“ that this or some similar animal may have 
given rise to the stories of mermen and 
mermaids?” 
“ It is not unlikely,” replied Miss Winston, 
—“ although those tales have been gene¬ 
rally applied to the seal; and there is really 
something very human in the round heads 
and beautiful eyes of those creatures.” 
“How large is a seal ?” asked Daisy. 
“ They are of various sizes, from the 
elephant-seal, which attains the length of 
twenty to thirty feet and is sixteen feet 
in circumference, and the walrus, larger 
than the largest bull, to the common seal, 
which measures usually from five to six 
feet. In general, they are harmless to man, 
and, in places where they have not been 
taught caution by ill-treatment, even 
friendly. A gentleman who resided a long 
time in the Hebrides says of them, ‘ When 
my pupils and I were bathing,—which we 
