NATURAL HISTORY. xxi 



fishers "the middle ice" of Baffin's Bay and Davis Straits. It is, however, occa- 

 sionally met with near the coast of Greenland. 



We have never seen it in any part of Prince Regent's Inlet ; but from the natives of 

 Boothia we obtained several skins of this Seal, which they describe as being some- 

 times very numerous on the west side of the Isthmus, but is much more scarce than 

 the preceding species. They have never seen any of this species on the east side of 

 the Isthmus of Boothia. 



15.— PHOCA BARBATA (Great Seal). 



Phoca Barbata. — Cuv: R^g. Anim. — vol. i., p. 168. 

 Fab: Faun. Grosnl. — p. 15. 



Oo ge ook. — Esquimaux. 



Is the largest of the Seals inhabiting the Polar Seas. It is but seldom sought after 

 by the natives of Boothia, as it approaches the shores only in the summer season, when 

 the salmon fishery wholly engrosses their attention. In winter it seeks those parts of 

 the Arctic Ocean which are seldom, if ever, frozen over for any length of time. 



No specimens were obtained. 



16.— TRICHECHUS ROSMARUS (Walrus). 



Tbichechus Rosmarus. — Cuv: Rig. Anim. — vol. i., p. 171. 



Fab: Faun. Grccnl. — p. 11. 



I we ak. — Esquimaux. 



Inhabits the west coast of Baffin's Bay, and is occasionally seen m the northern part 

 of Prince Regent's Inlet, but the natives of Boothia have never seen a Walrus ; and 



