Dr. Fyfe^s Manual of Chemistry. 71 



book to the classes it is intended for. The arrangement is 

 well enough ; and when the deficiencies are filled up by ex- 

 perimental illustrations, or verbal descriptions, we dare say 

 that it will answer the purpose of enabling the student to 

 draw up, at his leisure, more copious notes and perspicuous 

 illustrations than those with whicnDr.Fyfe has supphedhim. 



On the Structure and Habits of the Seal. By John Harwood, 

 M.D., F.L.S., Professor of Natural History in the Royal 

 Institution. 



[This communication contains the outline of a discourse on the above 

 subject, delivered to the members of the Royal Institution, by Dr. 

 Harwood, on Friday evening, the 16th of February, 1827. It was 

 illustrated by numerous specimens of skeletons, and of stuffed ani- 

 mals from the Museum of the Royal Institution, and from the valuable 

 collection of Mr. Brookes.] 



I HAVE principally been induced by two motives to select 

 the Seal as the subject of the present discourse : the one is, 

 that it has not attracted that general and popular notice with 

 which its habits and peculiarities deserve to be viewed ; and 

 the other, that throughout the whole extent of animal life we 

 discern no more beautiful and obvious adaptation in structure 

 to those peculiarities and habits than are presented to us in the 

 anatomy of this creature ; indeed, these striking appropriations 

 are so numerous, that it becomes difficult to make choice of 

 those most worthy of attention. Externally, the seal is of an 

 elongated form, its neck powerfully muscular and long, and its 

 body formed like that of a fish, broadest across the chest, and 

 gradually tapering to its hinder extremities. For the convenience 

 of swimming, its fore limbs are so short, as to appear destitute of 

 some of the bones and parts found in those of land-quadrupeds : 

 for we only see externally the feet, having their toes provided 

 with sharp claws ; but they are so enveloped in broad mem- 

 branes as not to be readily traced, though capable of free 

 motion. Such a capability, however, only applies to our 

 northern seals, and a few other species ; for the eared kinds of the 

 South Seas have their toes almost immovable, and furnished 

 with flat nails on the fore feet. After the gradual tapering of 

 the body, which terminates in a short flattened tail, the hinder 



