107 
ved by the ancient poets,* and is thus 
alluded to by Mr Scott, in his recent 
poem: 
“ Rude Heiskar’s seals, through surges dark. 
Will long pursue the minstrel’s bark.** 
These animals in swimming, often 
raise themselves as far as the shoulder, 
above the surface of the water. The 
first I saw in this position, was at a con¬ 
siderable distance, and might easily have 
been mistaken for a man, though it was 
much liker a dog. 
BufFon has already remarked, that this 
animal had given a foundation to the 
poetic fiction of the Nereids in anti¬ 
quity, and perhaps we may add, to the 
no less fabulous mermaids of modern 
times. 
The Arctic walrus, or Trichechus Ros- 
marus of Linnseus, the other great variety 
* Apol. Rhod. lib. 1. Val Flac. lib. 5, lin. 440* 
Gaudebant Carmine Phocee. 
