MONK SEAL. 195 



fice of the auditory canal is situated nearly opposite 

 the tympanum. 



" This Seal devours its food without chewing it, 

 and, after having removed the viscera, it always 

 takes it into its mouth in sucn a Direction that the 

 fins and scales offer no obstacle to its easy passage. 

 It sleeps throughout the live-long night, and cannot 

 be kept awake during the day without the most un- 

 ceasing perseverance. During sleep it is often ob- 

 served covered with the water at the bottom of its 

 trough, where of course it cannot breathe, and there 

 it continues for an hour at a time.'* 



We have nothing to add to these minute state- 

 ments, except the remark of Baron Cuvier, that the 

 average length of this species, when fully grown 

 is between ten and twelve feet. We have already 

 remarked, that it has long been known to frequent 

 the Adriatic Gulf, and, of course, the shores of 

 Greece. M. de la Marmora mentions that it is also 

 found on the coasts of Sardinia.* 



Voyage en Sardaigne, p. 173. 



