An account of the Phoca cristala. 95 



septum nasi is distinctly felt from the outside, rising forwards, 

 and at its greatest elevation about- six inches high. 



Eyes large, six inches and a half from the extremity of the 

 upper jaw, of a dull greenish hue, the cornea very flat. Ear 

 openings distinct, situated two inches and a half behind and 

 beneath the eyes ; no concha, nor even its rudiment, could be 

 observed. Cheeks and hood furnished with twenty-five to 

 thirty strong mastaces (Itlig.) on each side, arranged in rows 

 converging forwards. The mastaces of the upper rows black 

 and small ; of the inferior rows whitish, very stout, flatten- 

 ed, and about five inches in length ; all directed downwards. 

 When examined minutely, they seem to have a series of short 

 alternate bevels on each edge, but no spiral turns. The tongue 

 large and fleshy, and divided at its tip to the depth of half an 

 inch. 



Teeth thirty in number ; above, four incisors, two canine 

 and ten jaw teeth ; below, two incisors, two canine and ten 

 jaw teeth. The incisors above are cylindrical and approxi- 

 mated ; the two inner are small ; the exterior much larger, 

 and nearly half the size of the neighbouring canine. The ca- 

 nine are considerably larger than those of the lower jaw, and 

 more incurved. The incisors of the lower jaw are very small 

 and cylindrical ; the jaw teeth above and below are small, dis- 

 tant, and have each a cutting edge ; on the posterior part of 

 this edge, a notch or transverse indentation is visible. The 

 first is placed at some distance from the canine, and is much 

 smaller than the others. 



The anterior sivimming paws are small in proportion to the 

 size of the animal, of a uniform dark brown, except near their 

 junction with the body, when they assume the mottled appear- 

 ance of that part. They are furnished each with five strong, 

 compressed, channelled claws, dark at their base, and of a 

 light horn colour at the tips ; the exterior largest. The dis- 

 tance from the origin of the anterior part of the swimming 

 paws to the end of the jaw, is twenty inches. The length of 



