THE PROBOSCIS-SEAL, OR SEA-ELEPHANT. 



145 



ation laid before us, — a picture, which the ancients have pre- 

 sented to us without reserve or ambiguity ; which has been 

 simply and literally described by Herodotus, by Aristotle, and 

 after them confirmed by Pliny, ^Elian, and some writers of 

 the first ages of the Christian sera. At this time greater faith 

 was placed in the simple recital of habits of animals than is 

 done at present. I add, as a last proof in favour of the pre- 

 ceding conclusions, that if there were any of the true leeches, 

 (Hirudo,) in the Nile, — and we have stated above that they do 

 not exist in the running waters of the rivers, — in that case the 

 bill of the little plover would be too weak to divide them, to 

 tear them in pieces, and reduce them to a state in which they 

 would be useful to it in the way of nourish ment." 



THE PROBOSCIS-SEAL, OR SEA-ELEPHANT, (P/lOCd proboSClded, 



Pe'ron.) 



When a seal is contemplated for the first time, its fish-like 

 form and singularly shaped extremities lead to the supposition 

 that it must belong to a peculiar and distinct order of animals 

 most nearly allied to the cetaceous mammalia. But when its 

 teeth and claws are attentively examined, these unerringguides 

 distinctly point out its relation to the carnivorous order. Ac- 

 cordingly we find it placed in that division in the systems of 

 Zool.'Mag. No. 5. l 



