51 THE S TELLER. 



This animal has 110 voice, nor utters any sound, 

 merely breathing forcibly, and when wounded, as if 

 by sighs. Its organs of sight and hearing are of 

 slight power, as they are almost always submerged 

 and appear to be little employed. 



We have stated in the specific description, as 

 well as the generic characters, the peculiar structure 

 of the skin of the steller. It will perhaps be still 

 more satisfactory to the reader to have the more de- 

 tailed description of it from the original observer, 

 whose statement we subjoin. 



The hide of this animal is black, rough, wrinkled, 

 knotty, hard, tough, and destitute of hair, the epi- 

 dermis being an inch thick, and scarcely to be 

 penetrated by au axe or an iron hook. When cut 

 transversely, this cuticle resembles ebony, both in 

 polish and colour. The skin is smooth on the back; 

 from the neck, to the tail fin, it has nothing but su- 

 perficial circular wrinkles: the sides, however, are 

 exceedingly knotty, having many prominent ace- 

 tabula, especially about the head, bearing an un- 

 pleasant resemblance to mushrooms. 



The cuticle above described, is like a crust sur- 

 rounding the body, and appears to be composed of 

 mere tubes. These tubes are placed perpendicu- 

 larly to the true skin, and may be separated from 

 each other in their length. The inferior part of 

 each tube which is implanted in the skin, is round- 

 ed, convex and bulbous; hence, a portion of cuticle 

 torn off, appears tuberculous like Spanish hide, 

 while the subjacent skin presents the appearance of 



