_Miscellaneous Anecdotes._--Mr. Brown furnishes us with the following
account: About twenty-five years ago, a seal was so completely
domesticated that it remained with a gentleman, whose residence was but
a short distance from the sea, without attempting to escape. It knew
all the inmates of the family, and would come to its master when he
called it by name. It was usually kept in the stable, but was sometimes
permitted to enter the kitchen, where it seemed to take great delight
in reposing before the fire. It was taken to the sea every day, and
allowed to fish for itself, in which it was very dexterous; but when
unsuccessful, fish was bought for it. When tired of swimming, it came
up to the boat, holding up its head to be taken in.
A farmer in Fifeshire, Scotland, while looking for crabs and lobsters,
among the rocks, caught a young seal about two feet and a half long,
and carried it home. He fed it with pottage and milk, which it ate with
avidity. He kept it for three days, feeding it on this meal, when, his
wife being tired of it, he took it away, and restored it to its native
element. He was accompanied by some of his neighbors. On reaching the
shore, it was thrown into the sea; but, instead of making its escape,
as one would have expected, it returned to the men. The tallest of them
waded to a considerable distance into the sea, and, after throwing it
as far as he was able, speedily got behind a rock, and concealed
himself; but the affectionate animal soon discovered his hiding-place,
and crept close up to his feet. The farmer, moved by its attachment,
took it home again, and kept it for some time.
Seals are said to be delighted with music. Mr. Laing, in his account of
a voyage to Spitzbergen, mentions that the son of the master of the
vessel in which he sailed, who was fond of playing on the violin, never
failed to have a numerous auditory, when in the seas frequented by
seals; and they have been seen to follow a ship for miles when any
person was playing on the deck.
It is a common practice in Cornwall, England, for persons, when in
pursuit of seals, as soon as the animal has elevated its head above
water, to halloo to it till they can approach within gunshot, as it
will listen to the sound for several minutes.
The bottlenose seal is in general very inactive, but when irritated, is
exceedingly revengeful. A sailor, who had killed a young one, was in
the act of skinning it, when its mother approached him unperceived,
and, seizing him in her mouth, bit him so dreadfully that he died of
the wound in three days.