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Show 386 MR. R. COLLETT ON THE GREY SEAL. [Mar. 1, E. General Remarks. A full-grown male Grey Seal weighs from 250 to 290 kilogrammes, and contains blubber of the weight of 70 or 80 kilogrammes, a few extremely large ones perhaps reaching 100 kilogrammes. The females weigh from 180 to 250 kilogrammes; as a rule about 220. During the pairing-time the males lose from 50 to 70 kilogrammes. The female, the blubber of which, so to speak, is transferred through the milk to the pups, loses somewhat less, or from 30 to 50 kilogrammes. They do not regain their good condition before the summer, when they rapidly begin to fatten, and in the beginning of August acquire their greatest fatness, at which time they are also most shy. As soon as the pairing-time is over, and the young ones have taken to the sea, they assemble in small herds and leave the breeding-places, and gather about the outermost rocks to pass the winter; they never show themselves between the inmost islands. During the spring and early summer they lie together on certain rocks in such great numbers that the rocks are quite covered, and sometimes one sees the same rock covered for several days running. During the summer they principally take to the rocks at sunset, when the tide is falling, and remain there all night growling and crying, their numbers always increasing. At high tide the sea again washes them; but a few climb so high up that the sea cannot reach them, and these may often be observed lying over until the next high tide, perhaps longer. During the winter they are more seldom to he seen on shore than at other seasons, as the sea continuously breaks over the rocks where they repose. Smell is the most developed of their senses ; and it is of little use to endeavour to approach a Seal in the same direction as the wind blows. On the other hand, it has less reliance on its powers of sight whilst above the water, as its powers of vision are principally adapted for use under water. Seals are, on the whole, very shy and careful, especially when they notice that they are being followed. They very often, however, come close up to a boat and swim about, regarding every thing with great curiosity. During the pairing-time, and also at other periods, the males may be drawn near by mimicking their cry. They sleep both on the land and in the sea, in the latter only when there is a feeling of insecurity. During sleep the Seal hold"s the upper part of its head above the surface of the water. It never makes any show of resistance when it can escape, and never defends its young. With its long extremities it can move itself very rapidly, in spite of its clumsy build, and better than the other northern Seals. In case of danger, when the locality does not present too many obstacles, it can get away so rapidly that considerable club-like stick on the naked row of teeth (the upper lip being generally drawn up whilst asleep), and then to stick them with a knife. Guns are only used in case of need, so as not to disturb the others. |