CLASS MAMMALIA. 



263 



FIG. 459. 





sometimes to a length of two feet. The roughened 

 soles of its feet enable it to ascend icebergs to a great 

 height. It feeds on mol- 

 lusks which it digs from 

 their beds, and also, on 

 sea-weed. The Walrus of 

 the North Pacific differs 

 so much from the Wal- 

 rus of the North Atlantic 

 as to be considered a dif- 

 ferent species under the 

 name Rosmarus obesus 

 (ros'ma rus o be'sus). 



The Eared Seals are principally found in the Pacific 

 Ocean. The most important species is the Northern 

 Fur Seal,* which furnishes the rich seal skins of com- 

 merce. Though once distributed over the north-west 



FIG. 460. 



Callo rM'nus ursl'nus. Fur Seal, 



Skeleton of Seal. 



coast of America, they are now restricted to a few small 

 islands in the Aleutian Archipelago. Each mother, in 

 returning from a fishing excursion, will pass by thou- 



* The Sea Lion is a species of the Eared Seal. In the harbor of San Fran- 

 cisco hundreds of these animals are seen, scrambling over the steep rocks, biting 

 and pushing off their comrades, and rolling over one another, keeping up, mean- 

 while, a peculiar and incessant barking. 



