COMMON SEAL. 



Ph. Vitulina LINN. 



PLATE II. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. Molars placed in an oblique 

 position along the jaw ; posterior margin of the palate 

 acutely and deeply notched ; palatal foramen on maxillary 

 bone. 



Phoca vitulina, Cuv. Desm. 375. Calocephalus vitulinus, Fr. 

 Cuv. Less. Sea-Calf, and Sea-Dog of Sailors. Selkie and 

 Tang-fish of the North of Scotland. Raun of Western Isles. 



FOR the detection of specific characters of this Seal, 

 at once simple and satisfactory, we are, after long 

 and vexatious doubt, indebted to the skill of Pro- 

 fessor Nilsson. These characters consist, 1st, in 





