OF THE SCOTTISH COASTS. 131 



lip was much and roundly prominent, with whiskers 

 like those of the cat ; the hairs were not very nu- 

 merous, of a white colour, rather long, like bristles, 

 hard and horny, yet flexible. The teeth are de- 

 scribed as those of the genus, in respect of number, 

 and as very fit for seizing prey, and for self-defence. 

 The tongue was long, and round at the tip, but 

 somewhat sulcated at the upper part, so as to appear 

 double. The hair generally was short, slender, and 

 smooth, covering the whole of the body and the 

 extremities. The colour was verging to tawny, 

 (fulvum,) and the whole body was studded with a 

 number of dark spots, the tints being paler on the 

 belly and chest. The tail and posterior extremi- 

 ties were wholly brown, without any spots, except 

 at the origin of the fingers, where there were a 

 few tawny markings ; the same observations apply 

 to the fore-paws." 



We have already dwelt sufficiently on those dif- 

 ficulties of our subject, which render the establish- 

 ment of species and genera a work of so much 

 uncertainty and toil. The same causes equally pre- 

 vent our arriving at any precise knowledge respecting 

 the distinctive peculiarities in the habits and disposi- 

 tions of these animals ; and therefore every authentic 

 fact on these points is a valuable addition to our scan- 

 ty stock of information. It is on this account that 

 we the more readily avail ourselves of some details 

 contained in a manuscript on the Seals of the West- 

 ern Isles of Scotland, which has kindly been put 



