THROUGH SWEDEN. 
18; 
The only animals that inhabit thofe deferts, and find them an 
agreeable abode, are fea-calves or Teals. In the cavities of the ice 
they depofit the fruits of their love, and teach their young ones 
betimes to brave all the rigours of the rudeR feafon. Their mo¬ 
thers lay them down, all naked as they are brought forth, on the 
ice; and their fathers take care to have an open hole in the ice 
near them, for a fpeedy communication with the water. Into 
thefe they plunge with their young, the moment they fee a hunter 
approach ; or at other times they defcend into them fpontaneoufly 
in fearch of fifties, for fuRenance to themfelves and their offspring. 
The manner in which the male feals make thofe holes in the ice 
is aRonifhing : neither their teeth nor their paws have any fliare 
in this operation ; but it is performed folely by their breath. They 
are often hunted by the peafants of the ifles. When the iflanders 
difcover one of thofe animals, they take poll, with guns and Raves, 
at fome diRance from him, behind a mafs of ice, and wait till 
the feal comes up from the water for the purpofe of taking in 
his quantum of air. It fometimes happens, when the froR is ex¬ 
tremely keen, that the hole is frozen up almoR immediately after 
the feal makes his appearance in the atmofphere ; in which cafe 
the peafants fall on him with their Ricks, before he has time 
with his breath to make a new' aperture. In fuch extremities the 
animal difplays an incredible degree of courage. With his for¬ 
midable teeth he bites the club with which he is aflaulted, and 
even attempts to attack the perfons who Rrike him ; but the 
utmoR efforts and refiRance of thefe creatures are not much 
Bb2 dreaded, 
