4G4 
THE SEAL. 
bite; but it never retaliated, except to tease 
them by slight blows of its flippers. It 
shared its food with them, and readily al¬ 
lowed them to take fish out of its mouth.” 
“ Cannot you tell us any more stories 
about them, aunt?” said Antoinette, as 
Miss Winston paused. 
“ I could easily occupy another hour,” 
said Aunt Louisa ; “ but it is growing late. 
However, if there are any points upon which 
you particularly desire information and 
upon which I have not touched, I will en¬ 
deavour to enlighten you.” 
“I was going to ask about their young 
ones,” said Daisy. “Are they fond of 
them?” 
“Extremely so. They will fight despe¬ 
rately in their defence, and will not leave 
their cubs even when dead, snatching them 
out of the sailors’ hands, diving with them, 
and then bringing them to the surface in 
their arms, as if trying to restore them to 
life. The male sea-bear is very fierce in 
protecting his offspring, and if any one at¬ 
tempt to take the cub they stand on the 
defensive, and the mother carries it off in 
her mouth. Should she happen to drop it, 
