34 ® 
\ 
seal: 
frefli waters. In the laft, are covered with filvery 
hairs: bring two young at a time, which for fome fhort 
fpace are white and woolly; bring forth in autumn , 
and fuckle their young in caverns, or in rocks, till 
they are fix or feven weeks old, when they take to 
fea: cannot continue long under water; are there¬ 
fore very frequently obliged to rife to take breath, 
and often float on the waves. In fummer, fleep on 
rocks, or on fand-banks : if furprized, precipitate 
into the fea; or if at any diftance, fcramble along 
and fling up the fand and gravel with great force 
with their hind feet, making a piteous moaning: if 
overtaken, will make a vigorous defence with their 
feet and teeth : a flight blow on the nofe kills them, 
otherwife will bear numbers of wounds. 
Swim with vaft ftrength and fwiftnefs; frolick 
greatly in their element, and will Iport without fbar 
about fhips * and boats ; never go any great diftance 
from land : feed on all forts of fifh : are themfelves 
good food, and often eaten by voyagers : killed for 
the fake of the oil made from their fat; a young 
feal will yield eight gallons : their (kins very ufeful 
in making waiftcoats, covers for trunks, and other 
conveniencies : thofe of the lake Baikal are fold to 
the Chinefe , who dye them, and fell them to the 
Mongals f to face their fur-coats : are the wealth of 
the Greenlanders , fupplying them with every necef- 
fary of life. 
^ On a lhip’s approaching the ide of Lobos , near the river Plata ,, 
it is met by Ihoals of feals, who will hang by their lore feet to the 
fides of the veffel, daring at the crew; then drop off, and pafs and 
repafs the veffel for a confiderable time. Mur atari Hiji. Paraguay, 
zzq. TTT 
f Mullers Rujf. Samlung . III. 55g. 
