PIED SEAL. 155 



figures without perceiving there is a great difference 

 between them. 



It is true, that, with regard to this creature, we de- 

 siderate all the interesting and accurate information 

 which we have regarding the Monk Seal. Though it 

 was seen by thousands, it was examined by none. 

 The respect, however, which we owe to the name 

 of the celebrated Pennant forbids us altogether to 

 disregard his indication of it. " I first," says he, 

 " saw this Seal at Chester ; it was taken near that 

 city in May 1766, On the first capture its skin 

 was naked, like that of the Porpoise, and only the 

 head, and a small spot beneath each leg, was hairy. 

 Before it died the hair began to grow on other parts. 

 The fore part of the head was black, whilst the 

 hind part of the head and the throat were white ; 

 beneath each fore-leg there was a spot of the same 

 colour ; the hind feet were a dull white colour ; the 

 rest of the animal was entirely black. It was pro- 

 bably a young one. Its nose was taper, and elon- 

 gated, and the feet exhibited the usual peculiarities 

 of its congeners."* Mr Jenyns, in the " Manual of 

 British Vertebrate Animals," remarks, that this 

 Seal is probably only a variety of the Common 

 Seal.t 



History of British Quadrupeds, vol. ii. Second Edition, 

 273. 



t See Manual, &c. 1835, p. 16. 



