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Show 654 MR. J. W. CLARK ON EARED SEALS. [Dec, 7, On the same voyage, immediately after casting anchor in Dusky Bay (at the south-east corner of the Middle [South] Island of New Zealand) on March 26, 1773, he records the presence of Seals on some rocks in the harbour, laid down in his chart as " Seal Isles." " Some of the gentlemen killed a seal (out of many that were upon a rock), which made us a fresh meal" *. April 2 . - " In our way, we touched at the seal-rock, and killed three seals, one of which afforded us much sport" (p. 73). May 10.-"Went out in the boats to the rocks, which lie at this entrance of the bay, to kill seals. The weather was rather unfavourable for this sport, and the sea ran high, so as to make landing difficult; we, however, killed ten ; but could only wait to bring away five, with which we returned on board" (p. 91). Again, "The only amphibious animals are seals. These are to be found in great numbers about this bay, on the small rocks and isles near the sea-coast" (p. 96). The explorations of Captain Cook were succeeded in the years 1795-99 by those of George Bass, surgeon of the 'Reliance,' and Matthew Flinders, then a midshipman. They surveyed the coast of Australia south of Port Jackson, and discovered the strait separating Australia from Van Dieman's Land,-sometimes independently, and sometimes together. Bass found the rocks of Cape-Barren Island, off the north coast of Tasmania, "covered with fur-seals of great beauty. This species of seal seemed to approach nearest to that named by naturalists the Falkland-Island SeaL't- Again, of one of the islands off the " Patriarchs," not far distant from the above, after describing the land portioned out among the birds, we read, " the rest was appropriated to the seals, who seemed to be the lords of the domain. Mr. Bass remarked with surprise, that though the principal herd scampered off like sheep, as is usual on the first approach, yet the males, who possessed a rock to themselves, where they sat surrounded by their numerous wives and progeny, on his drawing near them, hobbled up with a menacing roar, and fairly commenced the attack, while the wives seemed to rest their security upon the superior courage and address of their lord; for instead of retreating into the water in the utmost consternation, they only raised themselves upon their fore fins, as if ready for march, keeping their eye upon him, aud watching the movements of his enemy. * * * * * * " The seal appeared to branch off into various species. He did not recollect to have seen them precisely alike upon any two islands in the Strait. Most of them were of that kind called by the sealers Hair-seals ; but they differed in the shape of the body, or of the head, the situation of the fore fins, the colour, and very commonly in tbe voice, as if each island spoke a peculiar language " J. * Voyage towards the South Pole, &c, 4th ed., vol. i. p. 68. t 'An account of the English Colony in New South Wales, &c.,' by Lieut Col. Collins (2 vols. 4to, London, 1802), i. p. 158. X Ibid. p. 192. |