The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28


ermen get TO know him and his ways per-
fectly we'll, they can never catch him.
This has so often happened on the Irish
coast that the fishermen have become super
stitious about such a seal, and let him help
himself unmolested.
-They think" says Wood, "that the ami
NAL is systematically protected from harm
of any kind; that bullets will not strike him,
however well the gun be aimed; that steel
will not enter his body, however keen the
blade. or however strong the arm that urges
it; and that the long array of nets are power
less to retain so puissant being in their
manifold meshes. So, after awhile, q seal
if he be only bold and wary-may lead q
luxurious life at the fishermen's cost, for none
will venture to attack an animal that bears
a charmed Efe."
Wood says, too, that they are good nat
ural barometers, and that whenever an old
seal is seen rolling and tumbling along
bank, a storm of wind and rain is sure to en-
sue before many hours have passed"
In places where they have not been much
interfered with, they become very fearless,
and will often follow boat closely, just to
satisfy their overweening curiosity by a
good stare.
They are very fond of music, and will fol-
INV bWccb bOuuQ lOI u IOuS way IL 10
said that when the bell of a church on the
coast ofone of the Orkneys rings all the seals
within hearing swim to the shore and listen
with apparent wonder, but utterly without
fear
There are great many seal stories, show
ing how intelligent and loving they are.
Strangely enough, when tame, they are
very fond of nice, warm corner near the
fire, but are perfectly willing to share it
with the dogs. They will eat off the same
plate with dog, too, and play with him
most amicably.
Indeed, they are very much like dogs, in
most of their characteristics. They have just
one cat-like trait If they are not very
hungry, they will play with e fish as a cat
does with mouse.
remember reading, as child, pitiful
story-mixed up with Irish superstition-of
seal belonging to an Irish farmer, who
lived near the sea shore.
The animal played with the children,
came when it was called, and was in every
way very bright, and a great pet. But a
''wise woman" told the farmer that the
harmless animal being, as the said, ''unclean,"
caused the sickness with which his cows
were afflicted.
The ignorant, superstitious man believed
her, and sent the seal out in a boat, threw it
overheard, and left it.
The next day it came back. Again they
took it out-further this time-and two or
three days afterward it was found one morn
ing in the outdoor oven.
Then the cruel man put out the loving
animals eyes, and sent it on an outward
bound vessel to be dropped two or three days
from land.
. fho orI &c u.
storm, the servants heard at night cry
which they thought was "banshee," but in
the morning the poor seal was found at the
door, dead-starved to death; for, having
had its eyes put out it could not catch any
food, though instinct led it back to the place
it loved.
But this is too sad a story. 1t will be
pleasanter to end with quotation from a re-
Gently published book on the inhabitants of
the sea:
They (seals) are not only capable of being
tanned when in captivity, but it can truly be
said they can be educated. They are ex-
tremely sensible to sound, and can even be
taught to enu1ciate short syliables. 1 had
one that could say pa and ma intelligibly,
and no doubt with longer instruction, it
might have acquired other words This one
would also play a whole tune through on a
hand organ, by holding on the crank by its
right fipper. He could also make as grace
full bow as any lady need wish to receive,
and throw kiss with his hipper with
great deal more ease and grace than many
persons exhibit.
"He would also follow me like a dog, and
was not even discouraged by flight of stairs,
up and down which he would go to keep me
in sight. When 1 was obliged to leave him
at night, or any other time, he would beckon
to me with his head and neck 'to come back
just as plainly as words could have expressed
the feeling; and when he could no longer
see me, he would cry like child. Sight,
hearing and memory are very keen. They
do not readily forget any one who has pet
ted them, nor an unkind word either, and
never blow; and really, if one had proper
accommodations, he could not easily procure
a more loving and grateful pet than bright
eyed, intelligent SEAL"
Seals have, indeed, such human faces, and
so many human habits, that it is not strange
that people, knowing nothing of them, and |
seeing them at distance, should, in times
past, have believed them to be mermen or