MONK SEAL. 193 



they were then of an oval shape, contracted at their 

 extremities. The eyes were large, full, of a brown 

 colour, and like those of an ox. When the creature 

 is long out of the water, the eye becomes bloodshot, 

 especially at the angles. The mouth, too, is large, 

 and surrounded with strong whiskers, almost like 

 fish bones. Instead of the external ear there was 

 only a small opening which was almost concealed 

 in the skin, and, though it was scarcely longer than 

 a line, the animal had, nevertheless, very acute hear- 

 ing. 



This Seal was taken on the coast of Dalmatia, 

 about 200 miles from Venice, and lived in a state 

 of domestication nearly two years.* 



To this detailed description of Buffon we shall 

 subjoin from the interesting memoir of M. F. Cu- 

 vier such particulars as throw additional light on 

 the animal's organization or habits.f " The Seals," 

 he remarks, " are animals, so very remarkable for 

 their intelligence and organization, that we should 

 assiduously collect every fact that can elucidate their 

 history. These considerations have determined me 

 to give a description of a female which was taken 

 in 1811, and which is at present (1813) exhibiting 

 to the public, and has not yet, I believe, been de- 

 scribed. For two years it has been kept in a trough, 

 which scarcely exceeds its own dimensions, being 

 only one foot longer, and two feet broader, than it- 

 self. It every day receives several pounds of fresh 



Hist. Naturel. Supplem., t. vi. p. 310. 

 t Annal. du Museum, t. xx. p 387. 



