THE AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA. 57 



fore." M. F. Cuvier, at a later period, made a si- 

 milar observation, so that we apprehend we may 

 safely affirm that this peculiarity exists in the air- 

 passages as their ordinary condition. This state 

 of parts of course supplies ready means of judging 

 of the frequency of respiration, and here, too, there 

 appears to be a marked difference, even on land, 

 from what obtains among other animals. Thus 

 Buffon, in the instance already alluded to, remarks, 

 " The period between its several inspirations was 

 very long : the creature opened its nostrils to make 

 a strong expiration, which was immediately followed 

 by an inspiration, after which it closed them, often 

 allowing two minutes to intervene without taking 

 another breath." In connection with this peculi- 

 arity, M. F. Cuvier makes an additional and import- 

 ant remark " Notwithstanding the slow and irre- 

 gular breathing of these animals, the regular supply 

 of air to the lungs is in no degree diminished, if we 

 may judge from the very free motion of the ribs, and 

 the great quantity of air expelled at each expiration. 

 In truth, the quantity of air taken in makes up for 

 the small number of the respirations ; for few of the 

 Mammalia have appeared to me to have so high a 

 natural temperature as the Seals."* 



But, however great the peculiarity as exhibited on 

 land maybe, it is trifling when compared to its singu- 

 lar ity in water ; where it is not uncommon for these 

 animals to remain for a quarter of an hour at a time 



* Mammiteres. Livraison, Sept. 1819 -, 2 



