QUADRUPEDS. 53 
mate bring forth in winter, and rear their young upon 
some sand-bank, rock, or desolate island, at some distance 
from the main land. When they suckle their young, they 
sit up on their hinder-legs, while the little Seals, which 
are at first white, with woolly hair, cling to the teats, 
of which there are four in number. In this manner the 
young continue in the place where they are brought forth, 
for twelve or fifteen days ; after which the dam brings 
them down to the water, and accustoms them to swim and 
get their food by their own industry. 
In Newfoundland the Seal-fishery forms an important 
source of wealth, and numerous ships are sent out every 
season among the ice in search of Seals. One ship has 
been known to catch five thousand Seals, but about half 
that number is the usual quantity taken. As soon as the 
Seal is killed, it is skinned, and the pelt, as the skin and 
blubber together is called, being preserved, the body of 
the Seal is either eaten by the sailors, or left on the ice 
for the polar bears. 
The aboriginal inhabitants of the northern regions have 
several strange superstitions about Seals. They believe 
that Seals delight in thunder-storms; and say, that during 
these times they will sit on the rocks, and contemplate, 
with apparent pleasure and gratification, the convulsion 
of the elements. The Icelanders, in particular, are said 
to believe that these animals are the offspring of Pharaoh 
and his host, who were converted into Seals when they 
were overwhelmed in the Red Sea. 
