CARNIVORA : PHOCID/E. 



53 



Common Seal, Ph. vitulina, Linn. 



attached to those who feed them. They live upon fish 

 and other aquatic animals, eat in the water, and close 

 their nostrils by a sort of valve when they dive. A dozen 

 or more species have been described. 



The Common 

 Seal, Ph. vitulina, 

 Linn., abundant in 

 the cool and frigid 

 regions, is three to 

 five feet long, yel- 

 lowish-gray, and 

 more or less shaded and spotted with brown according 

 to age. The eyes are large, dark, and lustrous. 



The Harp Seal, Ph. grocnlandica, Hooded Seal, Ph. 

 cristata, Gm., and Bearded Seal, Ph. barbata, Fabr., are 

 other species from the Northern regions. 



The Monk Seal, Ph. monachus, Gm., of the Mediterra- 

 nean, is ten to twelve feet long, and is the one best known 

 to the ancients. 



The Elephant Seal, Ph. leonina, Linn., of the Southern 

 Ocean, is twenty to twenty-five feet long, and the muzzle 

 of the male is terminated with a wrinkled snout, which 

 becomes inflated when he is angry. This seal is hunted 

 for its oil, of which it yields a large quantity. 



The Sea Lion, Ph. jubata, Gm., of the Pacific, is fifteen 

 to twenty feet in length. 



The Sea Bear, Ph. ursina, Gm., of the Arctic regions, 

 is eight feet long. 



The Genus Tricliccus comprises the Walrus or Morse, 

 T. rosmarus, Linn., of the Arctic regions, which resembles 

 the large seals, but is especially distinguished from them 

 by having no canine or incisor teeth in the lower jaw, and 

 by having the upper canines enormously developed, form- 

 . ing tusks which in many cases are two feet long. The 

 Walrus is of the size of the largest ox, and attains the 



