Page 89
An. 1683
Seals.
The Seals are a sort of Creatures pretty well known, yet it may not be amiss to describe them. They are as big as Calves, the head of them like a Dog, therefore call'd by the Dutch the Sea-hounds. Under each Shoulder grows a long thick Fin: These serve them to swim with when in the Sea, and are instead of Legs to them when on the Land for raising their Bodies up on end, by the help of these Fins or Stumps, and so having their Tail-parts drawn close under them, they rebound as it were and throw their bodies forward, drawing their hinder- parts after them ; and then again rising up, and springing forward with their fore-parts, alternately, they lie tumbling thus up and down, all the while they are moving on Land. From their Shoulders to their Tails they grow tapering like Fish, and have two small Fins on each side the Rump; which is commonly covered with their Fins. These Fins serve instead of a Tail in the Sea ; and on Land they fit on them, when they give suck to their young. Their hair is of divers colours, as black, grey, dun, spotted ; looking very sleek and pleasant when they come first out of the Sea: For these at John Fernan- do's have fine thick short Furr; the like I have not taken notice of any where but in these Seas. Here are always thousands, I might say possibly millions of them, either fitting on the Bays, or going and coming in the Sea round the Island ; which is co- vered with them (as they lye at the top of the Wa- ter playing and sunning themselves) for a mile or two from the Shore. When they come out of the Sea they bleat like Sheep for their young ; and tho' they pass through hundreds of others young ones, before they come to their own, yet they will not suffer any of them to suck. The young ones are like Puppies, and lie much ashore ; but when beaten by any of us, they, as well as the old ones, will make toward the Sea, and swim very swift and