THE SEAL AND THE ALLIGATOR
So far we have been talking of land animals, those that live, eat and breathe on solid ground. If we turn to the sea, we find it the native abode of the fish and of many animals lower than fish in nature's great family. And it is of interest to find that some land animals have gone back to the great world of waters, part of them to live there all the time, part to share their time between land and sea.
Among the first of these is the mighty whale, much the largest of living beings; also the porpoise, the dolphin, and other air-breathers that live in the ocean. Chief among those that spend their lives in part on the land are the seals. And these are the only animals of the land-sea kind that have ever been tamed, so we must say a few words about the seal.
There are many kinds of seals, some of them, like the sea-elephant of the southern seas, being very large. Others are small. All are splendid swimmers, their arms and hands acting as fins or oars, with which they can make their way very swiftly through the water. The ocean is their dining hall, in which a great dish of fish is ever ready for them, but their home is on island shores, where their young are born and brought up till they are able to swim.
The Harp-seal Afloat on the Ice
The kind of seal to be talked of here is that known as the Common Seal. This is the easiest to tame. It is found in the Arctic seas and comes down the coasts of Europe as far south as the Mediterranean and the coasts of America as far south as New Jersey.
This little fellow, along with some other species, is very intelligent. Where they are not hunted they will come very close to boats and to men on shore. They have a fondness for music and will follow a boat for miles if a flute or some other instrument is played. The ringing of the churchbell of the little town of Hoy, in the Orkney Islands, has often brought a great many seals into the bay, drawn there by the bell tones.
Seals that have been taken and tamed are very gentle and docile, and will live long if they have water to bathe and swim in, and fish to eat. They like to be taken notice of and caressed, come like dogs when their names are called, and can be easily taught many little tricks, so that learned seals are often put on exhibition.
When taken young and brought up in a household the seal acts as if it felt itself to be one of the family, and likes much to lie and warm itself in front of the fire. It grows very fond of those who care for it, showing a tender and loving nature.
We are told of one that would follow its master about like a dog, eating from his hand and lying by his side when he sat before the kitchen fire. It would also nestle close to the dog, with which it had made friends. When anyone came into the room, up would go its head to see who the newcomer was. But it never tried to bite dog or stranger.
The winter after this young seal was taken was cold and stormy, so that it was not easy to catch fish enough to feed the family and the seal. They tried giving it milk, but it took so much of this that in the end the family could not afford to keep it and decided to set it free and let it fish for itself.
Taking the little thing—it was very young—into a boat, they rowed out to sea, and when far enough from land tossed it overboard. But they were not going to get rid of their pet seal so easily as this. It swam after the boat, crying in so pitiful a way that they could not bear the tone and in the end took it on board again. Thus it was brought back to the house and lived there several months more before it took sick and died.
The Savage Florida Alligator
There is a story very like this of another seal that its owners tried several times to get rid of. They failed to do so, the knowing creature always finding its way back. At one time it even crept into the room through an open window and made its way up to bask by the fireside.
While it is not strange that the seal can be easily tamed, we should not look for such a thing in so savage an animal as the alligator, the most feared and hated of the animals found in the waters of our Southern States. Yet even this ferocious reptile can be tamed, as the following story will show.
The alligator in question was taken when very young, before its wild nature had shown itself, and was fed and attended to by its master, of whom it became very fond. It grew so tame that it would follow him about the house like a dog, even scrambling up and down stairs after him.
But the funny thing about this comical pet was that its chief friend was the cat, and that pussy returned its friendship. When the cat lay drowsing before the fire, the alligator would crawl up, lay its head on her back, and go to sleep in this position. It seemed happy whenever the cat was near, but grew very restless if its furry friend was away.
Raw flesh was fed to it and sometimes milk, which it liked very much. At night, in cold weather, it slept in a box, with wool for it to nestle in. But one night there came a sharp frost and the little guest was forgotten. The next morning the native of warm climates was found frozen to death.