A well-known traveller, in describing the Island of Tristan d'Acunha, states that the animals found on this lonely spot were so tame, that it was necessary to clear a path right through the mass of birds which were sitting on the rocks, and this was done by simply kicking them aside. One kind of seal did not move at all when struck or pelted, and at last some of the company amused themselves by mounting them, and riding them into the sea.