105 
they maintain that it brings forth two.* 
At the time of parturition, it comes on 
shore, and suckles its young there for 
about six week before it takes them to 
the water, where it instructs them in 
swimming. Though naturally timid, the 
female defends her young with great 
boldness and spirit; on other occasions 
they generally place their safety in flight; 
but I have sometimes seen them throw 
back stones and pieces of ice on the 
sailors who pursued them. 
Seals delight to go upon the ice, or on 
the shore, exposed to the sun; -f- they 
there sleep very profoundly, and fall an 
easy prey to the sailors, who dispatch 
them by a blow on the nose. 
Their voice has been not unaptly com¬ 
pared by Buffon to the barking of a hoarse 
* Perhaps Pliny has hit the truth, “ Parit nunquam 
geminis plures” Nat. Hist. lib. 9. § 13. 
t Sternunt se somno diverse in littore Phocee . 
Georg; lib. 4 - 3 
