CHAP. XIII. [unspec I]
¶ Of the Sea-•…•…alfe▪ or Seale.
THe great Whales, called Pristis and Balaena, bring forth their young aliue, and perfect li∣uing creatures: likewise all those that are couered with haire, as the Sea-calfe or Seale. She calueth on the drie land as other cattell, and whensoeuer she calues, she gleans after∣wards as kine do. The female is tied and lined to the male, like as bitches to dogges: she neuer bringeth more than two at once; and she giueth milke at her dugs and paps, to her young. Shee bringeth them to the sea not before they be twelue daies old, and •…•…en she traines and acquain∣teth them to swim and keepe the water ordinarily. These Seales be hardly killed, vnlesse a man dash out their braines. In their sleepe, they seeme to low or blea, and thereupon they be called Sea-calues. Docible they be & apt to learn whatsoeuer is taught them. They will salute folke [unspec K] with a kind of countenance and regard: also with a voice such as it is, resembling a certain rude and rumbling noise. If a man cal them by their name, they wil turn again, and in their language answere. There is no liuing creature sleepeth more soundly than they. The fins which they vse to swim withall in the sea, serue their turnes in stead of fee•…•… to go vpon, when they be on land. Their skins, after they be flaied from their bodies, retaine still a proprietie and nature of the seas; for euer as the water doth ebbe, they are more rugged▪ and the haires or bristles stand vp. Moreouer, their right finnes or legs are thought to haue a power and vertue to pro•…•…ke sleep, if they be laid vnder ones beds head.