FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Pacific Bearded SeaL — Erignathus harhatus nauticiis (Pallas). 

 Very much like typical harhatus; differing in cranial charac- 

 ters, such as short nasals, wider braincase, etc. Found from 

 coast of Alaska eastward. 



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 The Bearded Seal is an Arctic species and is found only in 

 the northern seas. It hauls out on the ice but does not break 

 holes in the ice-sheets for this purpose, choosing instead to 

 take advantage of natural fissures or openings. It is much 

 hunted by the Eskimos. 



Genus Halichoerus 



Dentition: Incisors, f ; Canines, \; Premolars, |; Molars, x = 34. 



Gray Seal. — Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius) 



General Description. — A very large Seal of plain color 

 pattern. Color varying with the individual from silver or 

 ashy gray to dusky gray, obscure blackish spots on upperparts 

 and sides. Length up to lo or 12 feet. 



Geographical Distribution. — Found along Atlantic coast 

 from Nova Scotia to Greenland. 



The Gray Seal prefers rocky localities where the water is 

 rough and ocean currents swirl in and out. The males fight 

 amongst themselves in the breeding season and often carry 

 scars. It is not a common Seal on the American coasts. 



Genus Cystophora 



Dentition: Incisors, f ; Canines, \; Premolars, |; Molars, j =30. 



Hooded Seal. — ^Cystophora cristata (Erxleben) 



General Description. — A fairly large Seal, dark in color, 

 having on the top of the head (males only) an inflatable bag 

 of muscular tissue; upperparts slaty black, sides lighter and 

 thickly spotted with whitish; length, 84-96 inches. Young 

 white. 



Geographical Distribution. — Found from Newfoundland to 

 Greenland and rarely as far south as New England. 



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The Hooded Seal is one of the more abundant vSeals of the 

 North Atlantic and ranges over much the same area as the 



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