The otter has two different methods of fishing-the one by catching its prey from the bottom upward, the other by pursuing it into some little creek, and seizing it there. In the former case, as this animal has larger lungs than most other quadrupeds, on taking in a quantity of air it can remain for some minutes at the bottom, and whatever fish passes over at that time is certainly taken; for as the eyes of fish are placed so as not to see under them, the otter attacks them off their guard from below, and, seizing them at once by the belly, conveys them on shore, where it often leaves them untouched, to continue the pursuit for hours together. The other method is chiefly practised in lakes and ponds where there is no current; the fish thus taken are of the smaller kind, for the large ones will never be driven out of deep water.

In this manner the otter usually lives during the sum mer, being furnished with a supply much greater than its consumption-killing for its amusement, and infect ing the edges of the lake with quantities of dead fish, which it leaves there as trophies rather of its victory than its necessities. But in winter, when the lakes are frozen over and the rivers pour with a rapid torrent, the otter is often greatly distressed for provisions, and is then obliged to live upon grass, weeds, and even the bark of trees. It then comes upon land, and, having grown courageous from necessity, feeds upon terrestrial animals-rats, insects, and even sheep themselves. Na ture, however, has given it the power of continuing a long time without food; and although during that season it is not rendered quite torpid, like the marmout or the dormouse, yet it keeps much more within its retreat, which is usually the hollow of a bank worn under by the water. There it often forms a kind of gallery, running for several yards along the edge of the water; so that when attacked at one end it flies to the other, and often evades the fowler by plunging into the water at forty or fifty paces distance, while he expects to find it just before him.

We learn from Mr. Buffon that this animal in France couples in winter, and brings forth in the beginning of spring. But it is certainly different with us, for its young are never found until the latter end of summer; and I have frequently when a boy discovered their retreats, and pursued at that season. I am therefore more inclined to follow the account given us of this animal by Mr. Lots, of the Academy of Stockholm, who assures us that it couples about the middle of summer, and brings forth at the end of nine weeks, generally three or four at a time. This, as well as the generality of his remarks on this subject, agrees so exactly with what I remember concerning it, that I will beg leave to take him for my guide, assuring the reader that, however extraordinary the account may seem, I know it to be certainly true.

In the rivers and the lakes frequented by the otter the bottom is generally stony and uneven, with many trunks of trees, and long roots stretching underneath the water. The shore, also, is hollow and scooped inward by the waves. These are the places the otter chiefly chooses for its retreat; and there is scarce a stone which does not bear the mark of its residence, as upon them its excrements are always made. It is chiefly by this mark that its lurking-places are known, as well as by the quantity of dead fish which is found lying here and there upon the banks of the water. To take the old ones alive is no easy task, as they are extremely strong, and there are few dogs that will dare to encounter them. They bite with great fierceness, and never let go their hold when they have once fastened. The best way, therefore, is to shoot them at once, as they never will be thoroughly tamed; and, if kept for the purposes of fishing, are always apt to take the first opportunity of escaping. But the young ones may be more easily taken, and converted to very useful pur

poses. The otter brings forth its young generally under the hollow banks, upon a bed of rushes, flags, or such weeds as the place affords it in the greatest quantities. It burrows under ground, on the banks of some river or lake, and always makes the entrance of its hole under water, then works up to the surface of the earth, and there makes a minute orifice for the admission of air, and this little air-hole is often found in the middle of some thicket. The young ones are always found at the edge of the water; and, if under the protection of the dam, she teaches them instantly to plunge, like herself, into the deep, and escape among the rushes or weeds that fringe the stream. At such times, therefore, it is very difficult to take them; for though never so young they swim with great rapidity, and in such a manner that no part of them is seen above water except the tip of the nose. It is only when the dam is absent that they can be taken; and in some places there are dogs purposely trained for discovering their retreats. Whenever the dog comes he shows by his barking that the otter is there; which if it be an old one, instantly plunges into the water, and the young all follow." But if the old one be absent they continue terrified, and will not venture forth but under her guidance and protection. In this manner they are secured and taken home alive, where they are carefully fed with small fish and water. In proportion, however, as they gather strength, they have milk mixed among their food, the quantity of their fish provision is retrenched, and that of vegetables is increased, until at length they are fed wholly upon bread, which perfectly agrees with their constitution. The manner of training them up to hunt for fish requires not only assiduity but patience; however, their activity and use, when taught, greatly repays the trouble of teaching; and perhaps no other animal is more beneficial to his master. The usual way is first to learn them to fetch as dogs are instructed; but as they have not the same docility, so it requires more art and experience to teach them. It is usually performed by accustoming them to take a truss stuffed with wool, of the shape of a fish and made of leather, in their mouths, and to drop it at the word of command; to run after it when thrown forward, and to bring it to their master. From this they proceed to real fish, which are thrown dead into the water, and which they are taught to fetch from thence. From the dead they proceed to the live, until at last the animal is perfectly instructed in the whole art of fishing. An otter thus taught is a very valuable animal, and will catch fish enough to sustain not only itself but a whole family. I have seen one of these go to a gentleman's pond at the word of command, drive up the fish into a corner, and, seizing upon the largest of the whole, bring it off in its mouth to its master.

Otters are to be met with in most parts of the world, and rather differ in size and colour from each other than in habitudes or conformation. In North America and Carolina they are usually found white, inclining to yellow. The Brazilian otter is much larger than ours, with a roundish head, almost like a cat. The tail is shorter, being but five inches long; and the hair is soft, short, and black, except on the head, where it is of a dark brown, with a yellowish spot under the throat.

THE BEAVER.-In all countries, as man is civilised and improved the lower ranks are repressed and de graded. Either reduced to servitude or treated as rebels, all their societies are dissolved, and all their united talents rendered ineffectual. Their feeble arts quickly disappear, and nothing remains but their solitary instincts, or those foreign habitudes which they receive from human education. For this reason there remain no traces of their ancient talents and industry, except in those countries where man himself is a stranger; where, unvisited by his controlling powers for a long succession of ages, their little talents have had time to come to

their limited perfection, and their common designs have been capable of being united.

The beaver seems to be now the only remaining monument of brutal society. From the result of its labours, which are still to be seen in the remote parts of America, we learn how far instinct can be aided by imitation. We from thence perceive to what a degree animals without language or reason can concur for their mutual advantage, and attain by numbers those advantages which each in a state of solitude seems unfitted to possess.

If we examine the beaver merely as an individual, unconnected with others of its kind, we shall find many other quadrupeds to exceed it in cunning, and almost all in the powers of annoyance and defence. The beaver, when taken from its fellows and kept in a state of solitude or domestic tameness, appears to be a mild, gentle creature, familiar enough but somewhat dull, and even melancholy-without any violent passions or vehement appetites, moving but seldom, making no efforts to attain any good, except in gnawing the walls of its prison in order to regain its freedom; yet this, however, without anger or precipitation, but calm and indifferent to all about-without attachment or antipathies, neither seeking to offend nor desiring to please. It appears inferior to the dog in those qualities which render animals of service to man; it seems made neither to serve, to command, nor to have connections with any other set of beings, and is only adapted for living among its kind. Its talents are entirely repressed in solitude, and are only brought out by society. When alone it has but little industry, few tricks, and without cunning sufficient to guard it against the most obvious and bungling snares laid for it by the hunter. Far from attacking any other animal, it is scarce possessed of the arts of defence. Preferring flight to combat, like most wild animals, it only resists when driven to an extremity, and fights only when its speed can no longer avail.

But this animal is rather more remarkable for the singularity of its conformation than any intellectual superiorities it may be supposed in a state of solititude to possess. The beaver is the only creature among quadrupeds that has a flat broad tail covered with scales, which serves as a rudder to direct its motions in the water. It is the sole quadruped that has membranes between the toes on the hind-feet and none on the forefeet, which supply the place of hands, as in the squirrel. In short, it is the only animal that in its fore-parts entirely resembles a quadruped, and in its hinder parts seems to approach the nature of fishes by having a scaly tail, which, as has been observed, is flat and scaly, somewhat resembling a neat's tongue at the point. Its colour is of a light brown, the hair of two sorts-the one longer and coarser, the other soft, fine, short, and silky. The teeth are like those of a rat or a squirrel, but longer and stronger, and admirably adapted to cutting timber or stripping bark, to which purposes they are constantly applied. One singularity more may be mentioned in its conformation; which is, that, like birds, it has but one and the same vent for the emission of its excrements and its urine-a strange peculiarity, but which anatomists leave us no room to doubt of.

The beavers begin to assemble about the month of June and July, to form a society that is to continue for the greatest part of the year. They arrive in numbers from every side, and generally form a company of above two hundred. The place of meeting is commonly the place where they fix their abode, and this is always by the side of some lake or river. If it be a lake in which the waters are always upon a level, they dispense with building a dam; but if it be a running stream, which is subject to floods aud falls, they then set about building a dam or pier that crosses the river, so that it forms a dead-water in that part which lies above and

below. This dam or pier is often eighty or a hundred feet long, and ten or twelve feet thick at the base. If we compare the greatness of the work with the powers of the architect it will appear enormous; bnt the solidity with which it is built is still more astonishing than its size. The part of the river over which the dam is usually built is where it is most shallow, and where some great tree is found growing by the side of the stream. This they pitch upon as proper for making the principal part in their building; and although it is often thicker than a man's body, they instantly set about cutting it down. For this operation they have no other instrument but their teeth, which soon lay it level, and that also on the side they wish it to fall, which is always across the stream. They then commence cutting off the top branches to make it lie close and even, and serve as the principal beam of their fabric.

This dike or causeway is sometimes ten and sometimes twelve feet thick at the foundation. It descends in a declivity or slope on that side next the water, which gravitates upon the work in proportion to the height, and presses it with a prodigious force towards the earth. The opposite side is erected perpendicular, like our walls; and that declivity, which at the bottom or basis is about twelve feet broad, diminishes towards the top, where it is no more than two feet broad or thereabouts. The materials whereof this mole consists are wood and clay. The beavers cut with surprising ease large pieces of wood, some as thick as one's arm or thigh, and about four, five, or six feet in length, or sometimes more, according as the slope ascends. They drive one end of these slopes into the ground, at a small distance one from the other, intermingling a few with them that are smaller and more pliant. As the water, however, would find a passage through the intervals or spaces between them and leave the reservoir dry, they have recourse to a clay, which they know where to find, and with which they stop up all the cavities both within and without, so that the water is duly confined. They continue to raise the dike in proportion to the elevation of the water and the plenty which they have of it. They are conscious, likewise, that the conveyance of their materials by land would not be so easily accomplished as by water; and therefore they take the advantage of its increase, and swim with their mortar on their tails and their stakes between their teeth to the places where there is most occasion for them. If their works are, either by the force of the water or the feet of the huntsmen who run over them, in the least broken, the breach is instantly made up; every nook and corner of the habitation is renewed, and with the utmost diligence and application perfectly repaired. But when they find the huntsmen visit them too often they work only in the night-time, or else abandon their works entirely, and seek out for some safer situation.

The dike or mole being thus completed, their next care is to erect their several apartments, which are either round or oval, and divided into three stories, one raised above the other-the first below the level of the causey, which is for the most part full of water; the other two above it. This little fabric is built in a very firm and substantial manner on the edge of their reservoir, and always in such divisions or apartments as above-mentioned that in case of the water's increase they may move up a story higher, and be no ways incommoded. If they find any little island contiguous to their reservior they fix their mansion there, which is then more solid, and so frequently exposed to the overflowing of the water, in which they are not able to continue for any length of time. In case they cannot pitch upon so commodious a situation they drive piles into the earth, in order to fence and fortify their habitation against the wind as well as the water. They make two apertures at the bottom to the stream; one is a passage to their bagnio, which they always keep neat and clean

-the other leads to that part of the building where everything is conveyed that will either soil or damage their upper apartments. They have a third opening or door-way, much higher, contrived for the prevention of their being shut up and confined when the frost and snow has closed the apertures of the lower floors. Some times they build their houses altogether upon dry land; but then they sink trenches five or six feet deep, in order to descend into water when they see convenient. They make use of the same materials, and are equally industrious in the erection of their lodges as their dikes. Their walls are perpendicular, and about two feet thick. As their teeth are more serviceable than saws, they cut off all the wood that projects beyond the wall After this, when they have mixed up some clay and dry grass together, they work it into a kind of mortar, with which, by the help of their tails, they plaster all their works both within and without.

The inside is vaulted, and is large enough for the reception of eight or ten beavers. In case it rises in an oval figure, it is for the generality above twelve feet long and eight or ten feet broad. If the number of inhabitants increase to fifteen, twenty, or thirty, the edifice is enlarged in proportion. I have been credibly informed that four hundred beavers have been discovered to reside in one large mansion-house, divided into a vast number of apartments which had a free communication one with another.

All these works, more especially in the northern parts, are finished in August, or September at farthest; at which time they begin to lay in their stores. During the summer they are perfect epicures, and regale themselves every day on the choicest fruits and plants the country affords. Their provisions, indeed, in the winter season principally consist of the wood of the birch, the plane, and some few other trees, which they steep in water from time to time in such quantities as are proportioned to the number of inhabitants. They cut down branches from three to ten feet in length. Those of the largest dimensions are conveyed to their magazines by a whole body of beavers, but the smallest by one only; each of them, however, takes a different way, and has his proper walk assigned him, in order that no one labourer should interrupt another in the prosecution of his work. Their wood-yards are larger or smaller in proportion to the number in the family; and, according to the observation of some curious naturalists, the usual stock of timber for the accommodation of ten beavers consists of about thirty feet in a square surface, and ten in depth. These logs are not thrown up in one continued pile, but laid one across the other, with intervals or small spaces between them, in order to take out with greater facility but just such a quantity as they shall want for their immediate consumption, and those parcels only which lie at the bottom in the water and have been duly steeped. This timber is cut again into small particles and conveyed to one of their largest lodges, where the whole family meet to consume their respective dividends, which are made impartially in even and equal portions. Sometimes they traverse the woods, and regale their young with a more novel and elegant entertainment.

Such as are used to hunt these animals know perfectly well that green wood is much more acceptable to them than that which is old and dry; for which reason they plant a considerable quantity of it round their lodgments; and as they come out to partake of it they either catch them in snares or take them by surprise. In the winter, when the frosts are very severe, they sometimes break a large hole in the ice; and when the beavers resort thither for the benefit of a little fresh air, they either kill them with their hatchets or cover them with a large substantial net. After this they undermine and subvert the whole fabric; whereupon the beavers, in hopes to make their escape in the usual way, fly with

the utmost precipitation to the water; and, plunging into the aperture, fall directly into the net and are inevitably taken.

THE SEAL-Every step we proceed in the description of amphibious quadrupeds we make nearer advances to the tribe of fishes. We first observed the otter with its feet webbed, and formed for an aquatic life; we next saw the beaver with the hinder parts covered with scales, resembling those of fishes; and we now come to a class of animals in which the shape and habitudes of fishes still more apparently prevail, and whose internal conformation attaches them very closely to the water. The seal in general resembles a quadruped in some respects. and a fish in others. The head is round, like that of a man; the nose broad, like that of the otter; the teeth like those of a dog; the eyes large and sparkling; no external ears, but holes that serve for that purpose; the neck is well-proportioned, and of a moderate length; but the body thickest where the neck is joined to it. From thence the animal tapers down to the tail, growing all the way smaller like a fish. The whole body is covered with a thick, bristly, shining hair, which looks as if it were entirely rubbed over with oil; and thus far the quadruped prevails over the aquatic. But it is in the feet that this animal greatly differs from all the rest of the quadruped kind; for though furnished with the same number of bones with other quadrupeds, yet they are so stuck on the body and so covered with a membrane that they more resemble fins than feet, and might be taken for such did not the claws with which they are pointed show their proper analogy. In the fore-feet, or rather hands, all the arm and the cubit are hid under the skin, and nothing appears but the hand from the wrist downwards; so that if we imagine a child with its arms swathed down, and nothing appearing but its hands at each side of the body towards the breast, we may have some idea of the formation of this animal in that part. These hands are covered in a thick skin, which serve like a fin for swimming; and are distinguished by five claws, which are long, black, and pieroing. As to the hind-feet, they are stretched out on each side of the short tail, covered with a hairy skin like the former, and both together almost joining at the tail; the whole looks like the broad, flat tail of a fish, and, were it not for five claws which appear, might be considered as such. The dimensions of this animal are various, being found from four feet long to nine. They differ also in their colours-some being black, others spotted, some white, and many more yellow. It would therefore be almost endless to mention the varieties of this animal. Buffon describes three; and Krantz mentions five, all different from those described by the other. I might, were I fond of such honours, claim the merit of being a first describer myself; but in fact, the varieties in this animal are so many, that were they all described the catalogue would be as extensive as it would be useless and unentertaining. It is sufficient to observe that they agree in the general external characters already mentioned, and internally in two or three more, which are so remarkable as to deserve peculiar attention.

It has often been remarked, that all animals are sagacious in proportion to the size of their brain. It has, in support of this opinion, been alleged that man, with respect to his bulk, has of all others the largest. In pursuance of this assumption some erroneous specula tions have been formed. But were the size of the brain to determine the quantity of the understanding, the seal would of all other animals be the most sagacious; for it has in proportion the largest brain of any, even man himself not excepted. However, this animal is pos sessed of but very few advantages over other quadru peds; and the size of the brain furnishes it with few powers that contribute to its wisdom or its preservation.

This animal differs also in the formation of its tongue from all other quadrupeds. It is forked or slit at the end, like that of serpents; but for what purpose it is thus singularly contrived we are at a loss to know. We are much better informed with respect to a third singularity in its conformation, which is, that the "foramen ovale" in the heart is open. Those who are in the least acquainted with anatomy know that the veins uniting bring their blood to the heart, which sends it into the lungs, and from thence it returns to the heart again to be distributed through the whole body. Animals, however, before they are born make no use of their lungs; and therefore their blood, without entering their lungs, takes a shorter passage through the very partition of the heart from one of its chambers to the other, thus passing from the veins directly into those vessels that drive it through the whole frame. But the moment the animal is brought forth the passage through the partition, which passage is called the foramen ovale," closes up, and continues closed for ever; for the blood then takes its longest course through the lungs, to return to the other chamber of the heart again. Now the seal's heart resembles that of an infant in the womb, for the foramen ovale" never closes; and although the blood of this animal commonly circulates through the lungs, yet it can circulate without their assistance, as was observed above, by a shorter way. From hence, therefore, we see the manner in which this animal is adapted for continuing under water; for being under no immediate necessity of breathing, the vital motions are still carried on while it continues at the bottom; so that it can pursue its prey in that element, and yet enjoy all the delight and advantages of ours.

The water is the seal's usual habitation, and whatever fish it can catch its food. Though not equal in instinct and cunning to some terrestrial animals, it is greatly superior to the mute tenants of that element in which it chiefly resides. Although it can continue for several minutes under water, yet it is not able, like fishes, to remain there for any length of time; and a seal may be drowned like any other terrestrial animal. Thus it seems superior in some respects to the inhabitants of both elements, and inferior in many more. Although furnished with legs, it is in some measure deprived of all the advantages of them. They are shut up within its body, while nothing appears but the extremities of them, and these furnished with very little motion but to serve them as fins in the water. The hind-feet, indeed, being turned backwards, are entirely useless upon land; so that when the animal is obliged to move it drags itself forward like a reptile, and with an effort more painful. For this purpose it is obliged to use its forefeet, which, though very short, serve to give it such a degree of swiftness that a man cannot readily overtake it; and it runs towards the sea. As it is thus awkwardly formed for going upon land, it is seldom found at any distance from the sea-shore, but continues to bask upon the rocks; and when disturbed always plunges down at once to the bottom.

The seal is a social animal, and wherever it frequents numbers are generally seen together. They are found in every climate, but in the north and icy seas they are particularly numerous. It is on those shores-which are less inhabited than ours, and where the fish resort in greater abundance-that they are seen by thousands, like flocks of sheep, basking on the rocks and suckling their young. There they keep watch like other gregarious animals; and, if an enemy appear, instantly plunge altogether into the water. In fine weather they more usually employ their time in fishing, and generally come on shore in tempests and storms. The seal seems the only animal that takes delight in these tremendous conflicts of Nature. In the midst of thunders and torrents, when every other creature takes refuge from the fury of the elements, the seals are seen by thousands

sporting along the shore, and delighted with the universal disorder! This, however, may arise from the sea being too turbulent for them to reside in, and they may then particularly come upon land when unable to resist the shock of their more usual element.

As seals are gregarious, so they are also animals of passage, and perhaps the only quadrupeds that migrate from one part of the world to another. The generality of quadrupeds are contented with their native plains and forests, and seldom stray except when neces sity or fear impels them But seals change their habitation, and are seen in vast multitudes directing their course from one continent to another. On the northern coasts of Greenland they are seen to retire in July, and and to return again in September. This time it is supposed they go in pursuit of food. But they make a second departure in March to cast their young, and return in the beginning of June, young and all, in a great body together, observing in their route a certain fixed time and track, like birds of passage. When they go upon this expedition they are seen in great droves, for many days together, making towards the north, taking that part of the sea most free from ice, and going still forward into those seas where man cannot follow. In what manner they return, or by what passage, is utterly unknown; it is only observed, that when they leave the coasts to go upon this expedition they are all extremely fat, but on their return they come home excessively lean.

The females in our climate bring forth in winter, and rear their young upon some sand-bank, rock, or desolate island, at some distance from the continent. When they suckle their young they sit up on their hinder-legs, while these, which are at first white, with woolly hair, cling to the teats, of which there are four in number, near the navel. In this manner the young continue in the place where they are brought forth for twelve or fifteen days; after which the dam brings them down to the water, and accustoms them to swim and get their food by their own industry. As each litter never exceeds above three or four, so the animal's cares are not so much divided, and the education of her little ones is soon completed. In fact, the young are particularly docile; they understand the mother's voice among the numerous bleatings of the rest of the old ones; they mutually assist each other in danger, and are perfectly obedient to her call. Thus early accustomed to subjection, they continue to live in society, hunt and herd together, and have a variety of tones by which they encourage to pursue or warn each other of danger. Some compare their voices to the bleating of a flock of sheep, interrupted now and then by the barking of angry dogs, and sometimes the shriller notes of a cat. All along the shore each has its own peculiar rock, of which it takes possession, and where it sleeps when fatigued with fishing, uninterrupted by any of the rest. The only season when their social spirit seems to forsake them is that when they feel the influences of natural desire. They then fight most desperately; and the male that is victorious keeps all the females to himself. Their combats on these occasions are managed with great obstinacy, and yet great justice; two are never seen to fall upon one; but each has its antagonist, and all fight an equal battle till one alone becomes victorious.

We are not certainly informed how long the females continue pregnant; but if we may judge from the time which intervenes between their departure from the Greenland coasts and their return, they cannot go above seven or eight months at the farthest. How long this animal lives is also unknown; a gentleman, whom I knew in Ireland, kept two of them, which he had taken very young, in his house for ten years; and they appeared to have the marks of age at the time I saw them, for they were grown grey about the muzzle; and it is very probable that they did not live many years longer. In

their natural state the old ones are seen very fat and torpid, separated from the rest, and, as it would seem, incapable of procreation.

As their chief food is fish, so they are very expert at pursuing and catching it. In those places where the herrings are seen in shoals the seals frequent and destroy them by thousands. When the herring retires, the seal is then obliged to hunt after fish that are stronger and more capable of evading the pursuit: however, they are swift in deep waters, dive with great rapidity, and, while the spectator eyes the spot at which they disappear, they are seen to emerge at above a hundred yards distance. The weaker fishes, therefore, have no other means to escape their tyranny but by darting into the shallows. The seal has been seen to pursue a mullet, which is a swift swimmer, and to turn it to and fro in deep water as a hound does a hare on land. The mullet has been seen trying every little art of evasion, and at last swimming into shallow water in hopes of escaping. There, however, the seal followed; so that the little animal had no other way left to escape but to throw itself on one side, by which means it darted into shoaler water than it could have swam in with the belly undermost; and thus at last it got free.

As they are thus the tyrants of the element in which they chiefly reside, so they are not very fearful even upon land, except on those shores which are thickly inhabited, and from whence they have been frequently pursued. Along the desert coasts where they are seldom interrupted by man they seem to be very bold and courageous; if attacked with stones, like dogs, they bite such as are thrown against them; if encountered more closely, they make a desperate resistance, and while they have any life attempt to annoy their enemy. Some have been known, even while they were skinning, to turn round and seize their butchers; but they are generally despatched by a stunning blow on the nose. They usually sleep soundly when not frequently disturbed; and that is the time when the hunters surprise them. The Europeans who go into the Greenland seas upon the whale fishery surround them with nets, and knock them on the head; but the Greenlanders, who are unprovided with so expensive an apparatus, destroy them in a different manner. One of these little men paddles away in his boat, and when he sees a seal asleep on the side of a rock, darts his lance, and that with such unerring aim that it never fails to bury its point in the animal's side. The seal, feeling itself wounded, instantly plunges from the top of the rock, lance and all, into the sea, and attempt to dive to the bottom; but the lance has a bladder tied to one end, which keeps buoyant, and resists the animal's descent; so that every time the seal rises to the top of the water the Greenlander strikes it with his oar, until he at last despatches it. But in our climate the seals are much more wary, and seldom suffer the hunter to come near them. They are often seen upon the rocks of the Cornish coast, basking in the sun, or upon the inaccessible cliffs left dry by the tide. There they continue extremely watchful, and never sleep long without moving-seldom longer than a minute; for then they raise their heads, and if they see no danger they lie down again, raising and reclining their heads alternately at intervals of about a minute each. The only method, therefore, that can be taken is to shoot them; if they chance to escape, they hasten towards the deep, flinging stones and dirt behind them as they scramble along, and at the same time expressing their pain or their fears by the most distressful cry; if they happen to be overtaken, they make a vigorous resistance with their feet and teeth till they are killed.

The seal is taken for the sake of its skin and for the oil its fat yields. The former sells for about four shillings; and, when dressed, is very useful in covering trunks, making waistcoats, shot-pouches, and several other conveniences. The flesh of this animal formerly found

place at the tables of the great. At a feast provided by Archbishop Neville, for Edward the Fourth, there were among other extraordinary rarities twelve seals and porpoises provided.

As a variety of this animal we may mention the "sea-lion," described in Anson's Voyages. This is much larger than any of the former, being from eleven to eighteen feet long. It is so fat that when the skin is taken off the blubber lies a foot thick all round the body. It seems to differ from the ordinary seal, not only in its size but also in its food; for it is often seen to graze along the shore, and to feed upon the long grass that grows up along the edges of brooks. Its cry is various, sometimes resembling the neighing of a horse and sometimes the grunting of the hog. It may be regarded as the largest of the seal family.

THE MORSE.-The morse is an animal of the seal kind, but differing from the rest in a very particular formation of the teeth, having two large tusks growing from the upper jaw, shaped like those of an elephant, but directed downwards, whereas in the elephant they grow upright, like horns; it also wants the cutting teeth both above and below; as to the rest, it pretty much resembles a seal, except that it is much larger, being from twelve to sixteen feet long. The morses are also generally seen to frequent the same places that seals are known to reside in; they have the same habitudes, the same advantages, and the same imperfections. There are, however, fewer varieties of the morse than the seal; and they are rarely found except in the frozen regions near the pole. They were formerly more numerous than at present; and the savage natives of the coasts of Greenland destroyed them in much greater quantities before those seas were visited by European ships upon the whale-fishery than now. Whether these animals have been since actually thinned by the fishers, or have removed to some more distant and unfrequented shores, is not known; but certain it is that the Greenlanders, who once had plenty, are now obliged to toil more assiduously for subsistence; and as the quantity of their provisions decrease (for they live mostly upon seals) the numbers of that poor people are every day diminishing. As to the teeth, they are generally from two to three feet long; and the ivory is much more esteemed than that of the elephant, being whiter and harder. The fishers have been known formerly to kill three or four hundred at once; and along those shores where they chiefly frequented their bones are still seen lying in prodigious quantities. In this manner a supply of provi sions, which would have supported the Greenland nation for ages, has been in a few years sacrificed to those who did not use them, but who sought them for the purposes of avarice and luxury!

THE MANATI.-We come, in the last place, to an animal that terminates the boundary between quadrupeds and fishes. Instead of a creature preying among the deeps, and retiring upon land for repose and refreshment, we have here an animal that never leaves the water, and is enabled to live only there. It cannot be called a quadruped, as it has but two legs; nor can it be called a fish, as it is covered with hair. In short, it forms the link that unites those two great tribes to each other; and may be indiscriminately called the last of the beasts or the first of the fishes.

We have seen the seal approaching nearly to the aquatic tribes, by having its hind-legs thrown back on each side of the tail, and forming something that resembled the tail of a fish; but upon examining the skeleton of that animal, its title to the rank of a quadruped was observed plainly to appear, having all the bones of the hinder legs and feet as complete as any other animal

whatsoever.

But we are now come to a creature that not only wants