SKA I, 



grant* of personal or assignable right*. Kights 

 nn-li a- ft subject would transmit by assignation 

 are transmitted by tin 1 sovereign under the Privy- 

 Real. Several other minor wals are still in use in 

 Scotland : the Quarter Seal, known also as tin' 

 Testimonial of the Creat S. al. peitaining to the 

 Director of Chancery : tin- Signet, mainly used in 

 initiating procei-dings in the Supreme Court; and 

 various Soils of Court. 



See U the articles BULL, GUM, RING, DEED ; and A. 

 R Wyon, lirtat Seal* of Kmjlauil ( 1N88). 



Seal, the name commonly applied to all the 

 Pinnipedia except the Morse or Walrus (<|.v. ). 

 The I'innipedia nave many of the essential char- 

 acters of the Carnivora (dogs, cats, lions, liears, 

 &c. ), in which order they are, therefore, classified. 

 They may accordingly be described as carnivorous 

 mammalH adapted to a marine existence. They 

 are not, however, so completely marine as the 

 Cetacea, but pass part of their lives and per- 

 form certain functions viz. the reproductive on 

 shores or on ice-fields. The structural peculiarities 

 of the Pinni|>edia are the following : The brain- 

 case is smooth and rounded, the face small and 

 short. The supraorbital proce-ses are largely 

 developed. The external ear is wauling altogether 

 or very small. The skin is well covered with hair, 

 which takes the form of fur in some species. The 

 liniiis are modified to form paddles for swimming, 

 but still are capable of use in climbing out of the 

 water and moving somewhat clumsily on land. 

 The upper divisions of the limbs are shorter than 

 the lower, and do not project beyond the skin of 

 the body. There are five toes on each limb, and 

 all are united together by strong wel extending 

 to the extremities. The inner toe of the fore- foot 

 is largest, the rest gradually decreasing, while in 

 the hind-foot the inner and outer toes are both 

 very long, and the intermediate ones somewhat 

 shorter. The nail- are straight, and may be reduced 

 in number or wanting. The incisor teeth are 

 pointed, and vary in number in the different 

 genera. The molars anil premolars are similar, 

 and have not more than two fangs. There is a 

 short, .-mall tail, which is united licyorid its middle 

 to the hind legs by the skin. The toes, particularly 

 those of the hind-feet, are capable of being spread 

 out very widely in swimming, so as to give great 

 propulsive power. 



Skeleton of Seal, with outline of the figure. 



The movement* of seals in the water are very 

 rapid and graceful ; on land they are very ]>eonliar, 

 even tin- fine. feet in the I'lmri.hc |>eing little used. 

 but the lx>dy contracted by an upward bending Of 

 the spine, and no thrown forward by a HUCCI inn 

 of jerki) ; in which way, howevei. a seal makes its 

 escape very rapidly from an a ailant. The llc\i 

 bility of the spine iii seals i very remarkable, and 

 de|iend<t on the very large interverlcbral cartilages, 

 formed of fibrous concentric rings. The muscles, 

 which are connected with the spine on all sides, 

 are of great strength. Seals have a remarkable 

 habit of swallowing large stones, for which mi 

 prolmble reason has yet lieen conjectured. Their 

 stomach*, are very often found to U- in part filled 

 with stun--. The stomach U quite simple; the 



gullet (irsoftliaqiis) enters it at the left extremity : 

 the cay-tun is snort, the intestinal canal long. 



The respiration of seals is extremely slow, about 

 two minutes intervening between one breath and 

 another, when the animal is on land and in full 

 acti\ity. A seal has liven known to remain 

 twenty live minutes under water. Their slowness 

 of respiration, and power of Misjiending it for a 

 considerable time, is of great use, as enabling them 

 to pursue their prey under water. The fur of seals 

 is very smooth, and abundantly lubricated with an 

 oily secretion. There is in some species an inner 

 coating of rich fur, through which grow long hairs, 

 funning an outer covering. Another adaptation 

 to aquatic life and cold climates apjieurs in a la\ rr 

 of fat Immediately under the skin from which 

 Seal Oil is obtained serving not only for supjiort 

 when food is scarce, but for protection from 

 cold, and at the same time rendering the whole, 

 Imdv lighter. The nostrils arc capable of lieing 

 readily and completely closed, and are so whilst 

 the seal is under water ; and there is a similar pro- 

 vision for the e.nrs; whilst the eye, which is large, 

 exhibits remarkable peculiarities, supposed to be 

 intended for its adaptation to use both in air and 

 waier. The face is provided with strong whiskei-, 

 connected at their base with large nerves. Seals 

 produce their young only once a year; sometimes 

 one, sometimes two, at a birth. Not long after 

 their birth the young nre conducted by the mother 

 into the sea. Many of the species are polygamous. 

 Terrible fights occur among the males. 



Seals are very much on their guard against the 

 approach of man where they Tiave lieen much 

 molested; but where they have been subjected to 

 no molestation they are far from being shy, and 

 approach very close to boats or to meu on 'shore. 



Common Seal (P. ritulina) ; attitude when swimming. 



as if animated by curiosity. They are much 

 alh'-ctcd by musical sounds.' A flute is said to 

 attract seals to a lioat, where they have not learned 

 caution from sore experience ; ami the ringing of 

 the church bell at Hoy, in Orkney, lias very often 

 caused the appearance of numerous seals in the 

 little bay. Seals possess a II the live senses in great 

 perfection. The common seal and some of the other 

 species are very intelligent: but there is consider- 

 able difference in this respect among the species. 

 The common seal and some others have often lieen 

 tamed, and are capable of living long in domestica- 

 tion if freely supplied with water. They become 

 very familiar with those who attend to them, are 

 MTV fond of carc--e- and of notice, recognise their 

 name like dogs, and readily learn many little 

 tricks, of which advantage has been taken for 

 exhibitions. 



Seals, excluding the walrus, are divided into the 

 two families Phocidir, which have no external 

 ears, and Otariida-, which ]KI--C-S distinct though 

 small representatives of these organs. The 

 Uluriidic, arc, however, considered by modern 



