The Nevada journal. [volume] (Nevada City, Calif.) 1851-18??, 1857-11-06

THR HABITS OF THE Scala SIN
aULAR SToRY.-The seal is endowed
with remarkable powerful brain devel-
opment, and is gifted with an amount
of sagacity which entities him to take
high rank even among domestic animals
He is easily tanned, and evinces de-
gree of attachment in domestication,
;econd onl y to mans most faithful friend,
Che dog. This is noticed by Pliny :;
and Cuvier describes one displaying
much intelligence, and performing many
tricks. Thus when desired to raise
himself on his extremity; and to take a
staff between his fippers, like seminal,
ne obeyed the word of command; he
would also lie down on'his right side, or
On his left, as directed, or tumble head
over heels. He gave ripper as dog
gives paw, and protruded his lips for a
Kiss. This attachment to their masters,
AUD particularly to those who are in the
habit of feeding them, may have been
observed by the pleasing instance of the
late seal in the Regents Park Zoologi-
cal Gardens, which, as many OF our rea-
ders may have remarked, evinced a re-
markable degree of activity and sense
when the keeper was in sight But
probably the most convincing, as GER
taiuly the most affecting story of the
domestic nature and attachment of the
Phuc0 Uttulian, or common seal, is the
following story, which is well authenti-
cated:-A young seal was domestica-
ted in the house OF farmer near the sea
shore in Ireland. 1t grew apace; its
habits were innocent and gentle it
played with the children, was familiar
with servants and attached to the house
and family. In summer its delight wa,
to bask in the sun in winter, to lie be-
fore the fire OF, if permitted, to creep
into large oven-the common appen-
dage to an Irish kitchen. A particular
disease attacked the black cattle, many
of which died. An old bag persuaded
the credulous owner that the mortality
among the cattle, was owing to his re-
tanning about his house an unclean beast
the harmless and amusing seal-and
that it should be got rid of. The super
sticious man caused the poor creature to
be carried in boat beyond Glare Island,
and thrown into the sea. The next
morning the seal was found quietly slee-
ping in the oven. He had crept thro'
an opeu window and taken posses
sion eft his favorite retreat. The cattle
continued to die the seal was again
committed to the deep at a greater dis
lance. On the second evening the
servant was raking the kitchen fire, she
heard scratching at the door; she
opened it, and in came the seal. 1t
uttered a peculiar cry, expressive of de-
light, at finding itself once more at home;
and, stretching itself on the hearth, fell
into sound sleep. TIE bag WAS again
consulted She said it would be unlucky
to kill the animal, but advised that Its
eyes should be tut out and then thrown
into the sea. The deluded wretch lis
tened to the barbarous suggestion, and
the innocent creature was deprived of its
sight; and a third time, writing in ag-
ony, was carried beyond Glare Island,
and thrown into the sea. On the eighth
uight after the harmless seal had been
devoted to the Atlantic, it blew ire
mendous gale. In pauses of the storm
a waiing noise was at times family
heard at the door, which the servant
concluded to be the 6anshee (the har-
binger of death in family.) The uext
morning, when the door was opened,
the seal was found lying dead upon the
threshold. - Yields Vacations tn Ire
land.