106 
dog ; when attacked, they make a more 
doleful kind of noise. 
Pliny expressly states this animal to 
be of a docile and tractable nature, and 
in this he is supported by the more en¬ 
larged experience of modern times. The 
seal described by Dr Parsons, * was 
taught to come out of his tub, and return 
to the water at the command of its 
keeper, to stretch out its neck to kiss 
him, and to perform several other mo¬ 
tions. 
Seals have a very delicate sense of 
hearing, and are very much delighted 
with music. The Captain’s son, who 
was a good performer on the violin, never 
failed to have a numerous auditory, when 
we were in the seas frequented by those 
animals; and I have seen them follow 
the ship for miles when any person was 
playing on deck. This fact was obser- 
* Pennant’s Quadrupeds , voL ii, p. 272. 
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