PART I. 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PINNIPEDS, OR SEALS AND WALPvUSES, 

 IN RELATION TO THEIR COMMERCIAL HISTORY AND 

 PRODUCTS. 



The common seals, tlie eared-seals, and the walruses form a well- 

 marked groii]) of the carnivorous mammalia, constitu- 

 ting a suborder (Pinnipedia) of the order Garmvora. se^rauTwaka^f''''^ 

 They are carnivores, especially modified for aquatic 

 locomotion and semi- aquatic life. Their ancestors were Ancestors of. 

 doubtless land animals, probably more nearly allied to 

 the bears than to any otlier existing mammals. They 

 are still dependent on the land or on fields of ice for a Bopencienoe on tiie 

 resting place, to which they necessarily resort to bring 

 forth their young. They are thus very unlike the sea-cows and the 

 whale tribe, wliicli are strictly aquatic, bringing forth their young in 

 the water, and entirely unfitted for locomotion on land. 



T!i8 great tribe of Pinnipeds is divisible into three quite distinct 

 minor groups ternied families, namely, the walruses 

 {f-AxnUiOdohenidw), the eared-seals (family Otarlidw), pi^^'/JJJ,!,*" ^"^'^ '^ 

 and the common or earless seals (family Phocido}). 

 These groups differ notably from each other in many points of struc- 

 ture. Tlie walruses agree with the eared-seals in 

 the structure of the hind limbs, being able to turn the tvSifeach oS ^''"°' 

 hind feet forward under the body, wliich are thus to 

 some degree serviceable as locomotive or gans on land, and enable them 

 to progress by a clumsy and much const rained method of walking. In 

 the true or earless-seals, on the other hand, the hind limbs can not be 

 turned forward, and thus on laud can take no part in locomotion; they 

 remain permanently extended in a line parallel to the axis of the body. 

 This diversity in the sti-ucture and function of the hind limbs involves 

 more or less modification of the entire skeleton. It is also reflected in 

 the whole manner of life in the two groups. Aside from this, there are 

 other im!)ortant structural differences, affecting especially the skull 

 and dentition. 



The following synopsis of the Pinuipedia is intended to j^resent a 

 classified list of the species, with a brief statement of synopsis of Pumi- 

 their distrilmtion, habits, and commercial uses. p*^^^^ 



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