SEA-BEAR OF STELLER. 255 



membrana nictitans, by which it can protect the 

 eye ; the external ears are one inch and eight lines 

 long, conical and erect, covered with short hair ; 

 they open by an oblong slit, which is shut in the 

 water. 



This creature has four feet on which it can walk 

 and stand somewhat like land animals* The limbs 

 are formed of precisely the same bones, but so 

 buried in the skin, and webbed, that the fingers 

 of the fore-paw coalesce into one mass, as do 

 those of the hind foot, and thus the whole become 

 fins in swimming. The fore-legs are two feet 

 long and eight inches broad ; they are not hid as 

 in the Seal, but are seen entire as in quadrupeds ; 

 they are covered with hair, except the under 

 part of the paw ; on the upper part are seen very 

 slender and minute rudimentary nails, which nature 

 seems to have added, that they might not be want- 

 ing, rather than they might be of use ; the posterior 

 edge is festooned in five very small curves, corre- 

 sponding to the five toes. By help of the web, the 

 animal can easily raise the upper part of its body 

 above the water, and so appear to stand erect in 

 it. When on shore, with the hind feet folded 

 under, it plants its paws in front, and sits as dogs 

 often do, so that the toes then perform the office of 

 heels. 



The hind flippers are twenty-two inches long and 

 six broad, and arc of little use in walking ; they ad- 

 here so closely to the body that each, indeed, can be 



