730 THE CARNIVORES 



is found in considerable numbers. It is one of those seals which make a circular 

 "blowhole" in the ice, through which they can ascend or descend at pleasure; 

 such apertures being made while the ice is forming. 



Nearly allied to the ringed seal are the Baikal seal (P. sibirica) and the Caspian 

 seal (P. caspica), which are respectively confined to the inland seas from which 

 they take their names. Both these seals are rather larger than the ringed 

 seal, and are very similar to one another. Their especial interest is derived 

 from their habitat; the Baikal seal inhabiting a fresh-water lake, while the waters 

 in which the Caspian seal dwells are but slightly salt. The curious part of the 

 matter is that neither lake Baikal nor the Caspian Sea appear to have had any 

 recent connection with the Arctic Ocean; and if, as is most probably the case with 

 the latter, we have to look to a former connection with the ocean to the southward, 

 it becomes difficult to see whence came the stock from which these two allied species 

 were derived. Mr. Allen has suggested, however, that the ringed, the Baikal, and 

 the Caspian seal may all be descended from an allied extinct species whose remains 

 are found in the Pliocene deposits of Belgium. 



Lastly, we have the bearded seal (P. barbata), which is distinguished from all 

 the other members of the genus by its superior size, its broad muzzle and convex 

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

 in the adult. Moreover; the front nipper 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 

 color of the bearded seal is some shade of gray, 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 Newfoundland. It is abundant on the coasts of Green- 

 land, 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 ten feet. An adult female skeleton, measured 

 by Mr. Allen, had a length of seven feet two 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 flavor 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 one 

 thousand. 



