EARLESS SEALS. 141 



forehead, as well as by its small and weak teeth, some of which generally fall out 

 in the adult. Moreover, the front flipper differs from that of all the other species 

 in having the third or middle digit longer than the rest ; whereas in the other 

 species the digits decrease in size from the first or first and second together. The 

 colour of the bearded seal is some shade of grey, darker on the middle of the back 

 than elsewhere, but varying considerably in different individuals. In distribution 

 the bearded seal is circumpolar and almost exclusively boreal, its only migration 

 in winter being that due to the extension of the unbroken ice-fields, by which it is 

 compelled to move somewhat to the southward. On the American side of the 

 Atlantic this seal extends as far as Labrador, but not apparently down to New- 

 foundland. It is abundant on the coasts of Greenland, but in Europe does not 

 appear to occur further south than Iceland and the North Sea. 



The bearded seal is by far the largest of all the northern seals, full-grown 

 males being said to attain a length of about 10 feet. An adult female skeleton, 

 measured by Mr. Allen, had a length of 7 feet 2 inches. The species is said to be 

 nowhere abundant, and is more or less solitary in its habits, never congregating in 

 large herds. It is fond of basking upon large pieces of floating ice, and generally 

 keeps well out to sea : and upon such occasions is easily approached and killed by 

 the Eskimos. A distinctive peculiarity of this species is its habit of turning a 

 complete somersault when about to dive, especially when fired at. The skin is 

 thicker than that of any other northern seal, and is consequently valued by the 

 Eskimos, who employ it in making their harpooning lines. Its flesh and blubber 

 are stated to be more delicate in flavour than those of other species. Owing to its 

 comparative rarity, the bearded seal is of no commercial importance ; the total 

 annual number caught some years ago in Greenland not exceeding a thousand. 



The Monk-Seal. 



Genus Monachus. 



The monk-seal (Monachus albiventer) belongs to a group differing from the 



preceding by having but two pairs of incisor teeth in both the upper and lower 



jaws; and also by the first and fifth toes of the hind-feet being much longer than 



the others, and having their claws either rudimentary or absent. With the 



exception of the first in each jaw, the cheek-teeth are implanted by double roots ; 



and the total number of teeth is thirty-two, against the thirty-four of the last 



group. The monk-seal is distinguished from the other members of the group by 



the character of its cheek-teeth ; these being large, hollowed on the inner side, and 



marked with a prominent ring at the base, while the cusps on either side of the 



main cusp are very small. Moreover, the claws on all the toes are small and 



rudimentary. The fur is short, and is dark brown mingled with grey on the 



upper-parts, and whitish beneath. Full-grown males attain a length of from 7 to 



8 feet, or more. 



Together with its ally the West Indian seal (M. tropicalis), the 

 Distribution. to J .... 



monk-seal is the only species of the family inhabiting the warmer 



seas : it is found in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and on the coasts of the 



