QUADRUPEDS. 
35 
Clafs I. ] 
external ears, but in lieu of them, two fmall 
orifices : the noftrils were oblong : on each 
fide the nofe were feveral long (lift* hairs ; and 
above each eye, were a few of the fame kind. 
The form of the tongue of this animal is 
fo fingular, that were other notes wanting, 
that alone would diftinguilh it from all other 
quadrupeds ; being forked, or flit at the end. 
The whole animal was covered with (hort 
hair, very clolely fet together : the color of 
that on the head and feet was dufky : on the 
body dulky, fpotted irregularly with white : 
on the back the dulky color predominated ; 
on the belly the white. 
The leal is common on moft of the rocky 
fhores of Great-Britain and Ireland , efpecially 
on the northern coafts : in Thales it frequents 
the coafts of Caernarvonjhire , and Anglefey . 
We muft acknowledge the great obligations 
our fociety lies under to the reverend Mr. 
Farrington of Dinas , in the former county, 
for feveral learned communications ; but in 
particular for the natural hiftory of this ani¬ 
mal, which we ftiall give the public in his 
own words. 
4 The feals are natives of our coafts ; and 
4 are found moft frequently between Lleyn in 
4 Caernarvonjhire , and the northern parts of 
4 Anglefey : they are feen often towards Car- 
c rcg y moelrhon , to the weft of Bardfey , or 
6 ynys Enlli ; and the Skerries, commonly 
4 called in the Brit if0 language Tnys y moel- 
4 rhoniaid, or feal ifland. The Latin name 
c of this amphibious animal is Phoca , from 
4 the Greek ^xv, vox ; for, being purfued, and 
4 in danger of being taken, they make a loud 
4 and hideous noife : the vulgar name of this 
4 creature is fea calf; and on that account, the 
4 male is called the bull, and the female the 
4 cow; but the Celtic appellative is Moelrhon , 
4 from the word Moel\ bald, or without ears, 
4 and Rhon , a (pear or lance. 
4 They are excellent fwimmers, and ready 
4 divers, and are very bold when in the fea; 
4 fwimming carelefsly enough about boats: 
4 their dens or lodgments, are in hollow 
4 rocks, or caverns, near the fea; but out of 
4 the reach of the tide : in the fummer they 
4 will come out of the water, to balk or fleep 
4 in the fun, on the top of large ftones, or 
4 (hivers of rocks : and that is the opportu- 
4 nity our countrymen take of (hooting them; 
4 if they chance to efcape, they haften towards 
4 their proper element, flinging ftones and dirt 
4 behind them, as they fcramble along ; at the 
4 fame time exprefling their fears by piteous 
4 moans; but if they happen to be overtaken, 
4 they will make a vigorous defence with their 
4 feet and teeth, till they are killed. They are 
4 taken for the fake of their (kins, and for the 
4 oyl their fat yeilds : the former fell for 
4 four (hillings, or four and fix-pence apiece; 
4 which, when drefled, is very ufeful in cover- 
4 ing trunks, making waiftcoats, (hot pouches, 
4 and feveral other conveniencies. The flefti 
4 of thefe animals, and even of porpoifes, 
4 formerly found a place at the tables of the 
4 great; as appears from the bill of fare of 
4 that vaft feaft that archbifliop Novell gave 
4 in the reign of Edward the fourth, in which 
4 is feen, that feveral were provided on the 
4 occafion.* They couple about April , on 
4 large rocks, or fmall iflands, not remote 
4 from the fhore; and bring forth in thofe 
4 vaft caverns that are frequent on our coafts ; 
4 they commonly bring two at a time, which 
4 in 
* Iceland's colleffanea. 
