. Encyclopedia of natural and artificial wonders and curiosities including a full and authentic description of remarkable and astonishing places, beings, animals, customs, experiments, phenomena, etc., of both ancient and modern times, in all parts of the globe : comprising correct accounts of the most wonderful freaks of nature and arts of man . , and hoofs; but it will be a lono- time before I can g-etit down, for they are not to be met with nearer than a monthsjourney from Lassa. We now make a few remarks on Seals.—First, the Com-mon Seal. These animals are found on the coasts of the polar
. Encyclopedia of natural and artificial wonders and curiosities including a full and authentic description of remarkable and astonishing places, beings, animals, customs, experiments, phenomena, etc., of both ancient and modern times, in all parts of the globe : comprising correct accounts of the most wonderful freaks of nature and arts of man . , and hoofs; but it will be a lono- time before I can g-etit down, for they are not to be met with nearer than a monthsjourney from Lassa. We now make a few remarks on Seals.—First, the Com-mon Seal. These animals are found on the coasts of the polar regions,both to the north and south, often in extreme abundance, andare generally about five feet in length, closely covered withshort hair. They swim with great vigour and rapidity, andsubsist on various kinds of fish, which they are often observedto pursue within a short distance of the shore. They pos-sess no inconsiderable sagacity, and may, without much * In speaking of the wild beasts of India, Pliny says, with regard tothe animal in question,— Asperriniam autem feram monocerotem, reljqno corpdre eqiio simi-lem, capite cervo, pedibus eliphante, cauda apro, mugitu gravi, unocornix nigro media fionte, cubitorum duum eminente. Hanc feram vivamnegantcapi. Plin. Hist. Mund. Lib. 3, cap. 21, The resemblance is certaicly /ery THE SEAL. 181 diulculty, if taken young, be familiarized to their keepersand instructed in various gesticulations. They are supposedto attain great longevity. The female is particularly attentiveto her young, and scarcely ever produces more than two at abirth, which, after being suckled a fortnight on the shore,where they are always born, are conducted to the water, andtaught by their dam the means of defence and subsistence ;and when they are fatigued by their excursions, are relievedby being taken on her laack. They distinguish her voice, andattend at her call. The flesh of seals is sometimes eaten, butthey are almost always destroyed for t
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Keywords: ., bookdecade1870, booksubjectcuriositiesandwonders, bookyear1876
