256 ORDER V. 



from the Northern Pacific ; but, it must be recol- 

 lected, that his ships necessarily came round by 

 Terra del Fuego. 



Family II. The Phocidce. This family presents a 

 remove further from the terrestrial form, and a com- 

 plete pinnatipede structure, adapted almost solely to 

 the water. Although they are animals strictly sus- 

 tained by atmospheric air, they breathe slowly, and 

 can sleep with the head under water. In size some 

 are superior to the elephant, and only second to the 

 larger whales : the fore feet are in all cases approxi- 

 mating to fins, or rather flippers, though there are 

 still some species retaining five fingers, armed with 

 strong claws ; but the hinder extremities, peculiarly 

 articulated, have only the power of striking out with 

 the feet, in a direct line backwards, which are al- 

 ways five toed ? with very broad membranes ; and 

 cannot be brought separately beneath the body ; for 

 they are placed so far back, and close together, that 

 they act like the flukes or tail of the whale tribe ; 

 hence their progress on land, though in some cases 

 rather quick, is mostly a painful grovelling, abortive 

 leaping and rolling, never extended beyond the im- 

 mediate border of the sea, excepting in a season of 

 repose among the males of some of the largest spe- 

 cies, who then struggle onward, sometimes to above 

 a mile, where they remain several weeks absolutely 

 without food. None have a tail of sufficient length, 

 01 formed to be serviceable in swimming. They are 

 all totally or partially carnivorous, with incisors va- 



