The Washington herald., 1908-08-09
THE SLEEPING SEAL.
Lots of People Always waiting to
see Him Fail on the Table.

Lots of People Always waiting to
see Him Fail on the Table.
From the New York sun
Visitors at the aquarium never tire OF
watching the harbor seals. and one thing
that pleases them particularly IS 10 see
the seals fail on their table when they 90
to sleep,
There are three harbor seals here, and
in the middle OF their pool there are plae-
ed close together two solid low tables.
their tops just above the water. on which
the seals climb out as they would on
rocks 10 sleep or 10 rest And sometimes
one or another Of the seals viii climb
out Of the water 70 one Of those tables
and lie there on it. maybe close along
The edge at one side and perhaps with
its head and the foreward part Of its
body hanging over the edge OF the table
in front, apparently all of the time in
imminent danger Of rolling of the table
at the side OF OF pitching on head frst
into the water in front
And when a seal lies on table like
. that. sleeping or doing, people stand
around the pool watching and waiting
for the seal 90 fan on He won't hurt
himself when he does fall he will simply
f
men. women. and children. will stand
there with keen interest silently watching
and waiting FOR that seal 70 fan
A sleeping seal is always likely TO move
a little in its sleep. not shifting position.
but maybe lis fippers. or giving its body
little switches. and this seal moves in that
way every now and then II doesn't seem
as If II could make any movement at all
without falling on. But IL does. II un-
t q .. me 81.
I I'D together 10 lie stiu again. and some
times it spreads its forward fippers and
{ then folds them back on its body again
and every now and then il mods
Its head hanging over the edge Of the
I table in front droops lower and lower
ana then the doing seal rec0vers it with
/ a little Jerk. just as a person doing ia
/ a chair would do. And this n0dding IN
I terests the people greatly. for really
every time the seal mods il seems as # Il
must so. but IL mods and mods and still
I manages 10 bring its head up in time
and stay on the stable. And then maybe
3 its head drops so far that IN rec0vering
T Il the seal does all but lose It's balance
and at that a little murmur runs around
/ the pool and the people settle down q
watch more intently stilL
B And II they stay long enough. as they
are pretty sure % do. they are rewarded
--r a--sl -l-il- YOU E--4E Al-e <lee Pima
seals head drops too far down. till IL.
nose all but touches the water and De
gives his head and shoulders q jerk ans
tries 10 recover himself. but this tim.
Z he's TOO FAR over and away he goes Of
the table head first into The water. and
then a buzz runs around among tht
watching people and everybody smiles
ana you hear some people eNclalmlng. ex
pressing their interest agdibly.
The seal takes q little short. easy tu-;
around in the water and comes back ar,
climbs up again on the table. raises It
head there. and takes a look around a
the people and then lies down and goes q
sleep again
And many stay % see him fan Of
again. while in place Of those who NOV
on others stop Go look. and SO there az
always lots Of people deeply interested
men. women. and children. standing s.
leutly around che seal pool waiting q
see The seal fan Of the table