seals–Special Features & figures of speech

Seals have been hunted for their fur, meat, blubber (= fat layer below the skin) for hundreds of years!

The sea lion is called so because of the ‘mane’, (long, thick, rough hair on the neck of the male (bull)), which looks like (resembles) that of a lion!

The ‘crab-eater’ seals do not eat crabs, but feed on krill (= small shrimp-like animals)!

Unlike most other seals, the female (cow) crab-eater seal is much larger than the male (bull) – growing to 8 feet in length and 200-250 Kg. in weight!

Most species of seals live in cold waters, but the rarest of seals the ‘monk seals’ live in warms waters!

The ‘Baikal seal’ has three special features: it is the smallest of the seals, only 4 feet long; it is one of the few species that live in fresh waters; and it is the longest lived, living for 55 years of age!!!

The leopard seals are called so because of the black spots on their grey coat (fur) which look like (resemble) those of the leopard, and also because this seal is a very aggressive hunter just like its namesake, the land leopard, one of the big cats!

Figures of Speech:

1.

seal  (noun)  =

(a)  an official mark, usually with a design, stamped on a document to show that it is genuine and carries the authority – the ‘seal of office’, ‘an emperor’s seal’

(b)  something that makes something else definite or official, usually in the phrase ‘seal of approval’

(c)  a substance, such as some sticky paste or hot metal that gets hard when cooled, or a rubber ring,  that is used to fill in gaps or cracks in something, such a vessel, container, water pipe, or pipe joints, etc.

(d)  a piece of wax or some other substance that is used on the cover or envelope or folder, which is broken to get to the contents in that envelope or folder; some soft metal put on locks or meters (water meter, electricity meter) to prevent them from tampering, i.e. opening without proper permission (one has to break the seal to open it)

2.

to seal (verb)  =

(a)  to put a mark on some document to show that it is genuine or official

(b)  to close something completely, such as an envelop, folder, an entrance to something, or any opening, so that to get to the contents or to enter one has to break open the thing

(c)  to put a seal (wax or some soft metal) on something to prevent it from being tampered, i.e. being opened without proper permission

(d)  to block or take away any chances of a person getting some advantage, benefit or profit – ‘seal one’s fate’

3.

as black as Alaskan sealskin

4.

“All right, you did hear a seal bark!” [said to indicate the speaker’s disbelief, but ready to take up an agreement on some issue]

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