272 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



body ; strong muscles ; structure of the nostrils and nature of the 

 coat, cannot fail to convey to the observer an idea of how excellently 

 adapted the animal is for pursuing an aquatic existence. 



The Common Seal — which we have already met with in Chapter 

 III — belongs to the Earless, or True Seals, and is widely distributed, 

 whilst other species belonging to the same group, and which can 

 only be mentioned by name, are the Grey Seal of the North Atlantic, 

 the Bladder Nose or Crested Seal, and the Greenland Seal. 



The Sea Leopard is a Hair Seal which inhabits Southern Seas 

 and attains a length of as much as twelve feet; the Sea Elephant is a 

 larger cousin, being, with the exception of the large Whales, the 

 biggest marine mammal in existence, attaining a length of from 

 twenty to thirty feet. 



Steller's Sea Lion belongs to the Eared Seals, and is the largest 

 member of the genus to which it belongs; the Californian Sea Lion 

 (Fig. 215) claims kinship with the same genus, but is not restricted 

 to the country from which it has acquired its name, being found on 

 both sides of the North Pacific; the Sea Bear, or Northern Fur Seal, 

 represents the Fur Seals (of which there are also four or five rare 

 Southern species), and which resorts to the islands in the Behring 

 Sea, and the last species which can be mentioned is the Walrus (see 

 Fig. 236). This latter is also known as the Morse, or Sea Horse, 

 and a full-grown adult weighs at least a ton. It is not often found 

 outside the Arctic Circle, and, in addition to its immense size and 

 weight, is chiefly distinguished by means of two enormous canine 

 teeth, or ivory tusks as they may be called. The uses of these 

 lengthy teeth are many, for by means of them and its tough hide the 

 Walrus is well protected against the Polar Bear, and they also assist 

 the huge monarch in hauling its body out of the water on to the ice, 

 and in searching for marine creatures hidden in the sand and mud. 



Among the valuable kinds of Seals ceaseless hunting has resulted 

 in many thousands of these animals being killed every year. In 

 consequence, several species have been reduced to a minimum, but it 

 must not be overlooked that to the Eskimo and other residents near 

 the haunts of these mammals of the sea, Seals are of the greatest use, 

 indeed among the very necessities of life. Thus, whilst we must 

 deplore the depopulation of our seas as a result of Seal-hunting 

 expeditions for commercial greed, and, above all, the senseless slay- 

 ing of those kinds of no economic value, we must not judge too 

 harshly the primitive races of mankind whose only chance of exist- 



