340 CARNIVORA. 



membranes are dried, and, as they are transparent, are used to cover the 

 windows of the hut. Each seal furnishes about half a barrel of oil. 



The Caspian Seal, Calliccphalus Caspkus, seems to be a mere strag- 

 gler from the great army of Common Seals, and to possess no very 

 characteristic marks, distinguishing it from its fellows. 



II.— GENUS PAGOMYS. 



This genus embraces tivo species, and is distinguished from the pre- 

 ceding genus by the greater depression of the skull. 



The Hoe-RAT, Pagoniys fatidus, is the smallest of the northern seals, 

 and obtains its specific title firtidiis or " stinking " from the vile odor 

 emitted by the old males. 



III.— GENUS PAGOPHILUS. 



The seals contained in the two species of this genus have a longer and 

 narrower head than the common seal, a flatter forehead, a longer muzzle, 

 a shorter hand, the second finger being the longest. 



The Harp Seal, or Atak, Pagophilus Grcenlandiais (Plate XXVI), may 

 be taken as the representative of the genus. It is also called the Saddle- 

 back Seal, and derives its name from its remarkable coloring. Its coat 

 is a whitish-gray, on which two broad semicircular bands of deep black 

 are drawn, extending from the shoulders to the tail ; the muzzle and fore- 

 part of the head are also black. This marking is not conspicuous till the 

 animal attains its fifth year. 



The Harp Seal is generally about seven feet in length, and is found 

 in great numbers on the coasts of Greenland, where it congregates in 

 large herds. It prefers to take up its abode upon floating ice-islands. 

 The oil it supplies is said to be purer than that from other seals, and it is 

 furnished with an extraordinary amount ot blubber. In its habits it 

 resembles the Common Seal, and like it, it is easily tamed. 



Two of these animals which were placed in the zoological collection 

 at the Jardin des Plantes, were at their first arrival extremely shy, and 

 would avoid the person of man with every mark of terror. Yet in a 

 very short time they became quite tame, and would voluntarily seek the 

 caresses of those who had behaved kindly toward them. They also 



