which dissatisfied me, as I remember, at the time; what I
wanted not being so much a Biblical illustration as a handy zoological
collection. So I appointed the dove a seal, and he did very well indeed
when I had pulled off his legs (a little inverted v). I argued, in the
first place, that as the dove went out and found nothing to alight on,
the legs were of no use to him; in the second place, that since, after
all, the dove flew away and never returned, the show would be pretty
well complete without him; and, thirdly, that if, on any emergency, a
dove were imperatively required, he would do quite well without his
legs--looking, indeed, much more like a dove, as well as much more like
a seal. So, as the dove was of about the same size as the cow, he made
an excellent seal; his bright yellow colour (Noah's was a yellow dove on
the authority of all orthodox arks) rather lending an air of distinction
than otherwise. And when a rashly funny uncle, who understood wine,
observed that I was laying down my crusted old yellow seal because it
wouldn't stand up, I didn't altogether understand him.

[Illustration]

Toby is a good soul, and you soon make his acquaintance. He never makes
himself common, however. As he swims round his circular pond, behind the
high rails, he won't have anything to say to a stranger--anybody he has
not seen before. But if you wait a few minutes he will swim round
several times, see you often, and become quite affable. There is nothing
more intelligent than a tame seal, and I have heard people regret that
seals can't talk, which is nonsense. When a seal can make you understand
him without it, talking is a noisy superfluity. Toby can say many things
without the necessity of talking. Observe his eyes fixed upon you as he
approaches for the first time. He turns and swaps past with his nose in
the air. "Pooh, don't know you," he is saying. But wait. He swims round
once, and, the next time of passing, gives you a little more notice. He
lifts his head and gazes at you, inquisitively, but severely. "Who's
that person?" he asks, and goes on his round.

[Illustration]

Next time he rises even a little more. He even smiles, slightly, as he
recognises you from the corner of his eye. "Ah! Seen you before, I
fancy." And as he flings over into the side stroke he beams at you quite
tolerantly.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: GOOD DOGGY!]

He comes round again; but this time he smiles genially, and nods.
"'Morn