The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-26
THE SLEEPING SEAL.
Lots OF People Always waiting to See Him
Fall or the Table.

fnu III inc luDiCs
Visitors at the Aquarium never tire OF
watching the harbor seals, and one thing
that pleases them. particularly 10 to see the
seals fall of their table when they go to
sleep.
There are three harbor seals here, and
in the middle Of their pool there are placed
close together two solid low tables, their
tops lust above the water. On which the
seals climb out as they would on rocks
to sleep or TO rest. And sometimes one or
another of the seals will climb out Of the
water to one OF those tables and lie there
on it, maybe close along the edge at one
side and perhaps with it's head and the for
ward part OF it's body hanging over the edge
Of the table in front, apparently all the
time in imminent danger of rolling of the
table at the side or of pitching OF head
first into the water in front.
And when a seal lies on a able like that,
sleeping aaeI nss, or d0zin and pe %pitis s,an for arG the s sns
to fall of. He won't hurt himself when
he does fall, he will simply fall of into the
water; but old and young, men,. women
and children, will stand there with keen
i-pteres. silently watching and waiting for
A sleeping seal is always likely to move
q little In it's sleep. not shifting position,
but maybe it's flippers. or giving it's body
little switches, and this seal moves in that
as II it could make any movement at all
without falling off. But. it does, 1t un-
folds it's tail fippers and then folds them
up together to lie still again. and some,
times Il spreads it's forward fippers and
then folds them back on it's body again,
and every now and then it mods.
It's head hanging over the edge Of the table
in front droops lower and lower. and then
the doing seal recovers it with a little
jerk, just as a person doing in a chair
the people greatly, for really every time
the seal mods it seems as If it must go. but
1t mods and mods and still manages to bring
it's head up in time and stay on the table.
And Their maybe it's head drops 80 far that
in recovering it the seal does all but lose
it's balance. and at that a little murmur
runs around the pool n the people settle
down to watch more intently still.
And II they stay long enough. as they
are pretty sure to do. they are rewarded
head drops too far down. till it's nose all but
touches the water and he gives bis head
and shoulders a jerk and tries to recover
himself. but this time he's too far over and
away he goes off the table head first into
the water. and then a buzz runs around
among the Watching people n every
body smiles and o hear some people
exclaiming. expressing their interest
audibly.
The seal takes a little short. easy turn
around in the water and comes back and
climbs up again on the table. raises its head
there and takes a look aroun at the people
and then lies dow and goes to sleep again.
And many stay to see him fall Oh again.
while in place Of those who move on others
stop to look. and 80 there are always lots
of people deeply interested. men, women
and children. standing silently around the
seal pool waiting to see the seal fall of
the table