1Q2 MONK SEAL. 



head and the upper part of its body, supporting it- 

 self on its fore-paws to the height of the hand which 

 held the fish ; for it was scarcely satisfied with any 

 other aliment, having a preference for carp, and still 

 more for eels ; these, though raw, were seasoned to 

 its taste by rolling them in salt. It required about 

 thirty pounds of these live fish every day ; it greedi- 

 ly swallowed the eels entire, and even the carp which 

 were first offered it, but, after devouring two or 

 three entire, it subjected them to some preparation, 

 by crushing their heads with its teeth, then partially 

 gutting them, and concluded by gulping them head 

 foremost 



The keepers of this animal stated it could live for 

 days, and even for more than a month, without en- 

 tering the water, provided it were washed every 

 evening with clean water, and had plenty of salt 

 water to drink, for, when it drank fresh water, and 

 especially if it were not quite pure, it was always 

 sure to be injured by it. 



This individual was seven and a half feet long ; 

 its skin was covered with a short smooth shining 

 hair of a brown colour, mixed with grey principally 

 upon the neck and head, where it was spotted ; the 

 fur was thicker on the back and side than on the 

 belly, where there was a large white marking, which 

 mounted up upon the flanks. The nostrils were 

 neither inclined, nor were they placed as in ter- 

 restrial quadrupeds, but extended vertically on the 

 extremity of the snout ; they were three or four 

 inches long, and when open, about two inches wide ; 



