Another sea creature that has made unexpected appearances is the
seal. It has long been common enough in some parts of the coast. There are caves, for example, on the west coast of Wales which are its historic home. One of the vividest natural history memories of very early days was a visit there to help secure two young seals for a great natural. ist of the Midland Counties. Their capture was an epic, and the native delight of the animal in captivity, when it once grows used to the novelty, perhaps justified the deed. The presence of large numb( s of seals on the East Coast is newer. They are certainly multiplying very rapidly, both in the Wash and off the bird sanctuary at Blakeney ; and in neither place are they locally popular. It is even alleged that they rob the terns of their natural food. But the sea is a big place: There is room in it for seals as well as cormorants, though both these, and indeed the terns themselves, are accused by fisherrhen of ruinous voracity, and persecuted when the rare chance is offered.
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