scientific language, “Phoca Barbata," and "Phoca Vitulina,” Phoca being the generic name for seal. Two other species are found, however, in Greenland and Hudson's Bay, and occasional individuals have been seen in an emaciated state, or washed on shore dead, on our own coasts. In the South Seas the seals are of a very different kind from any of these. The Greenland seals we have alluded to, are called the "hooded seal," and the “harp seal;" the former, because of a bladder-like appendage.com its forehead; the latter, from a beautiful dark marking the shape of a harp on its side, the rest of the fur on the body being nearly white. 179 403 20

The Phoca barbata is never above ten feet in length, more usually it is seven or eight feet; and yet it has been stated at twenty! This mistake has probably arisen from confounding the appearance of a walrus with a seal; the former has a head hardly larger than a seal's, and otherwise much resembles it, when only seen at sea; but it is twice as large in the body, and otherwise a very different creature. The male of our greater seal is larger and much darker in color than the female; he also grows darker with age, while the female grows lighter, and the physiognomy of each sex is so marked, as to be recognized at once, by those who have had frequent opportunities of seeing them in their native haunts.

A near relative of the writer has in one year examined above forty of these creatures, and consequently has had occasion to appreciate the distinctions we have mentioned, in a way altogether irrefragable. Another very important particular in the seal's history should be stated. Neither species ever have more than one young at a birth. The greater seals live by pairs in some wild cavern, and inhabit the same spot for many successive years. The lesser seals live in considerable flocks or herds. They frequent sheltered bays and low lying shores, and often ascend the larger rivers and estuaries of Britain; this species is never above six feet long, nor are the male and female to be distinguished at a glance as the others. Their color is also more: speckled, and the head is shorter and rounder in proportion to › the rest of the body...

All seals are extremely wild, and apparently of prodigious muscular strength; they delight to sport among the breakers. 1

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The whirls of the Northern Ocean and its loudest hurricanes are their pastime and diapasons. The eye is dark, large, and in stinct with sagacity, we had almost said, feeling; more proud} and fierce in its expression than that of the gazelle, yet hardly less beautiful. The fishermen in some of our remote villages have strange superstitions connected with the seal. From its wildness, its strength, and the daring ferocity of its gaze, they imagine it to be a fallen spirit in metempsychosis, enduring a mitigated punishment in this form. For this reason the ignorant peasants avoid the seals at all times, and abstain from doing them any harm, imagining them to be as powerful to injure, as malevolent to revenge. The writer has lived for months in a family where a young female sealt of the darge species was domesticated. The prejudice of the lower classes could not be overcome; they would look on the unoffending creature with loathing and astonishment no eloquence could conquer. One servant only was prevailed upon to attend to the animal, which soon became tame enough to allow that person any familiarity, though all others she kept at a respectful distance. The flashing glance of the large full eye was sufficient to awe the boldest, especially when the animal's great strength was considered, which every motion and gesture plainly revealed. But, in fact, no creature could be more inoffensive and unassuming; being allowed to go where she pleased, she often hobbled up stairs, looking into every chamber, as if to gratify an insatiable curiosity; when she got into a novel position, she would remain quite still for a time, gazing at every object, in the way an American Indian might do when he first beheld the appurtenances of civilization. But more especially into the human countenance this seal would often steadfastly stare, as if seeking to hold communion with the inmost spirit. This, at least, was the feeling invariably aroused, and hardly to be withstood, amounting at times almost to fascination, till in truth even educated persons have imagined it such a "pleasing dread,” as that with which one might look on "archangel ruined." She often gave utterance to the most mournful sounds. It might have been seal's music. It was very wild and very sad, enough to make one weep at times, and even startling to a stranger. It could not have been awakened by memories of freedom and

the storm, for she had been taken from her native cave at a few days old, ere she had sniffed the breezes, or tasted the brine. She ate great quantites of fish, and even caught it for herself, as she was permitted to go every day to the sea, where, after enjoying herself for a while, she would answer with her mournful prolonged cry the voice of kindness calling her to return. Then she would hasten to land, and follow her friend, expressing fondness in her own pensive and somewhat uncouth way, for the draught of sweet milk she seemed to enjoy above everything else. This interesting favorite fell a victim to an accident when full-grown and quite domesticated, and she was greatly regretted by all the family, while the cottage neighbours rejoiced in the absence of what they believed a being beyond humanity" an unchancy brute."

About six months ago another young seal was procured by the same gentleman: a narrative of the capture of this animal may perhaps interest our readers. Let them imagine a long narrow arm of the North Sea, on each side the rocks are rugged and precipitous, and of considerable height. Deep indentations are to be found all along the shore, forming low-browed, dark caverns, where numerous pairs of the greater seal live, and bring up their young, almost unmolested. The entrances to these caves are so low, that they may only be entered at neap tides; into others a boat may row, or be warped, when the sea is quite smooth, while others again are only accessible by the seals deep under the clear green water. Into all of them the sea flows with a hollow gurling swell, on which a boat rises and falls somewhat fearfully, even when the water outside is quite still. At the inner termination is a pebbly beach, generally in total darkness. So deep and tortuous is the entrance, though sometimes it is open and spacious; but so much the more terrible is, in that case, the surging billow, that rolls in unbroken, till it bursts on the circumscribed shore, and echoes in thundering reverberations from the overhanging rocks around.

Such are the seals' homes, but sometimes either from better places being pre-occupied, or from caprice, or some other cause, they choose less feasible dwelling places, as the following anecdote will show. A fisherman was one day engaged in seeking

limpets to bait his lines, when he descended into a narrow creek, on the wildest side of the arm of the sea I have mentioned. The water in the creek was deep, but the latter terminated in a stony beach, like the caves. On either side the rock of Gneiss rose in dark masses, and lay in loose fragments at the base, except at one point where the man scrambled down to reach the rocks at the water's edge. To his great surprize, our fisherman saw a young seal, lying on the smoothest part of the little beach, at the end of the creek. It ought to be noticed that the young of the Phoca Barbata do not take the water for several weeks after birth, while those of the Vitulina, plunge into the sea with the mother immediately. The parent seals were swimming in the creek, the male, one of the very largest, was sporting in undisguised happiness in the surge; the female more vigilant, was half on land, she soon descried the intruder, and looked at him savagely; plunging into the deep water, she appeared to bespeak the assistance of her mate, and both approached to look at the spoiler of their home, who in the meanwhile had caught the young one by the hinder flapper, half paw, and half fin, and in spite of its struggles, bound it fast to a stone, with a bit of rope he happened to have. He then ran to the nearest cottage, and despatched a messenger to his landlord for instructions. Returning to the creek, he remained more than two hours watching his captive and observing with interest, not unmingled with compunction, the futile attempts, and the anxious affectionate gestures of the parents. Very few of his class we have ever heard of, would have remained in a similar situation, amid the wild solitude, the booming surf, the plaintive cry of the young one, the frantic plunging, and loud howls of the anxious parents, and the fast approach of evening. Still our fisherman kept his singular watch, and just as darkness was closing in upon him, messengers arrived with orders not to hurt the old seals, but by all means to secure the young one. This it required the strength of three stout men to do, but it was safely accomplished, and the denizen of the rock transferred to a country gentleman's house. It refused food and drink obstinately for several days, but retained its strength and ferocity. At length it took milk, then it began to eat fish, and was allowed to go to the sea for a

daily bathe, not however without being secured by a line attached to his flapper. On one occasion the rope slipped offfreedom-the trackless ocean, and communion with his own kind, were all before him, he tumbled about and dived, and it was thought was gone for ever; but his kind attendant continued calling to him in the voice of caressing, he was accustomed to, and at length to the delight of his owner and servant, the noble animal rushed on the beach to his feet, and followed him to his sleeping place like the most affectionate dog. Still to all other persons the animal was decidedly fierce or sullen. During a three days' absence of his usual attendant, neither kindness or force would induce him to swallow the least nourishment, and his joy at his friend's return, was demonstrated in the most unequivocal manner-proving beyond a doubt that the most savage natures are sensible of, and grateful for, continued gentleness and kind offices.

Does not this suggest a double lesson-obedient gratitude to our patient, all-bountiful Protector and Benefactor, who has borne so much from our alienation and opposition; and gentle treatment and kindly attentions even towards the most untractable objects? Love seldom fails of conquering at last.

To conclude the short history of our Phoca, he lived for seven or eight months, and it was hoped was gradually becoming more confiding and domestic; when he suddenly refused food, and for twenty-eight days took neither meat or drink. Till within the last six, his strength seemed quite unabated, though his plumpness diminished daily. At length he died, and it appeared he had swallowed something that impeded digestion...

We do not altogether approve of subjecting animals to an unnatural state of domestication, yet much may be said in favor of that spirit of enquiry into their manners and dispositions, which such experiments tend to satisfy. Moreover man hadˇ originally "Dominion over the creatures" assigned him, and provided we exercise it with kindness and gentleness, it is yet ours absolutely.

We cannot but admire the wonderful variety of the works of God, and the adaptation of animals to the scenes in which He has placed them. We should also be grateful to our and their