THE SEAL. 
463 
long fasts, during the course of which they 
become very thin and weak. 
“The body of the seal is wonderfully 
adapted to the kind of life it leads, ap¬ 
proaching as it does the form of the fish. 
The fore-legs are very short, destitute of a 
collar-bone, and entirely hidden in the skin 
of the body, except the wrists and hands, 
the fingers of which are webbed and very 
powerful. The hind-legs are placed not at 
right angles, but parallel with the body: the 
feet alone have the power of motion, and 
are very strong and flexible. 
“ Seals are easily domesticated, and 
show considerable docility and great affec¬ 
tion for their friends. They have been 
taught a variety of feats; and one, at least, 
learned a trick for himself. A falling-off 
having been observed in the milk of' the 
cows, it was finally discovered that master 
seal, being fond of that beverage, was in 
the habit of visiting the cowhouse and help¬ 
ing himself. A marbled seal, which lived 
in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, formed 
an attachment for two small dogs kept in 
the same enclosure with it. They would 
mount upon its back, bark at, and even 
