CHAPTER VII. 



SEALS -DESCRIPTION AND PECULIARITIES - WHERE FOUND -ES- 

 QUIMAUX SEAL HUNTING THE COMMON SEAL THE HOODED 

 SEAL THE GREAT SEAL THE HARP SEAL THE FCETID AND 

 URSINE SEAL. THE WALRUS. 



From very early ages, the family of Seals (Phocce) has 

 been considered a sort of anomaly, hearing the same relation 

 to fish as the bat was supposed to bear to birds. 



Description. Head rounded, no external ears, eyes large, 

 tail very short. 



It was doubtless from imperfectly formed observations 

 of these animals that the stories of mermaids, sirens, sea 

 nymphs, &c., originated. In their natural history much 

 remains yet to be elucidated ; and this is no matter of surprise 

 when we consider the ignorance which exists concerning 

 mammalia much more within our reach, than these marine 

 inhabitants. Cuvier remarks " we have not the means, 

 except by deduction and analogy, of ascertaining the habits 

 of these half amphibious animals, while procuring their sus- 

 tenance in the sea." We are, however, acquainted with the 

 physical structure of the animal, and possess a knowledge of 

 its character and habits. 



The form of the body of the seal bears a general resem- 

 blance to that of a fish. A remarkable formation about them 

 is their having only the extremities of their limbs visible ; the 

 remaining part being closely covered by the integument of the- 

 body, the fore limbs to the wrist, the hind ones to the heel ; 

 the toes are furnished with claws, and are united by a mem- 

 brane, which serves for the purpose of a fin or paddle. The 

 enclosure by this integument gives the limbs an appearance 



