



SEA LEOPARD.— Zt^^/o/zj^ce' TFeddellii. 



The Seals are the first of a series of animals, which although they breathe 

 atmospheric air, and jDossess warm blood, yet live chiefly in the water, and 

 are never seen except in the water or in its immediate neighbom'hood. The 

 legs are developed like fins, and their bodies are covered thickly with fat, in 

 order to protect them against the effects of the water, in which they spend so 

 much of their time. They nearly all feed upon fish, which they chase in the 

 water. 



The true Seals are found only in the sea, and at the mouths of various large 

 rivers, and are wonderfully abundant in the polar regions. None of them are 

 known to inhabit the tropical parts of the earth. Several species have been 

 known to occm' upon om" own shores, more especially on the more northern coasts, 

 and the common Seal, Phoca vihdina, is found in great numbers around the 

 northern British shores. 



The Sea Leopard, or Leopard Seal, is distinguishable from the other Seals 

 by means of its comparatively slender neck, and the wider gape of its mouth, 

 which opens further backward than is generally the case among these 

 animals. The body is rather curiously formed, being slender at the neck and 

 largest towards the middle, from whence it tapei's rapidly to the short an' 

 inconspicuous tail. 



159 



