170 



THE HARE-LIKE SEAL 



Ph. Leporina. 

 PLATE IX. 



Phoca Leporina, Lepechin, Cuv. Des. 374, Blainv. Pennant. 

 Shaw. P. Lepechini, Less. Hare of the Sea of the Rus- 

 sians. 



THE only other species referred to this genus which, 

 with any satisfaction, we can adduce, is the Hare of 

 the Sea of the Russians. Lepechin's is the first 

 and almost the only account of this Seal hitherto 

 presented to the public,* the descriptions of nearly 

 all the Systematists consisting merely of copies from 

 him. 



He states that its length is six and a half feet, 

 and its greatest circumference five feet. The head 

 is elongated ; the upper lip as if swollen, and thick 

 like a calf's ; the whiskers are strong and thick, 

 covering the whole front of the lip ; the eyes are 

 blue, and the pupils black ; the fore paws are short 



' Acta. Acad. Scient. Imv. Petropol. anno 1778. 



