256 SEA-BEAR OF STELLER. 



moved separately, but cannot assume the position 

 as in standing, so that when the animal attempts to 

 move forward on land, it draws its hind feet and 

 the whole of its body behind it like an inert mass- 

 The parts corresponding to the thigh and leg are 

 concealed in the body, but those forming the ankle 

 and foot are free and exposed, and covered with 

 hair ; where the bones end, the flipper is divided, 

 and its extremity appears like five straps, the ex- 

 tremities of which are round, The nails on the 

 great and little toes are so small that they can be of 

 no use ; those on the other toes are much larger, and 

 of the same length and breadth. 



The skin is very thick, and the hair is like that of 

 the Seal, but four times longer, standing erect, and 

 very thick. Close to the skin there is a very soft 

 wool, which is of a brownish-red colour. The 

 longer hair in the old males is two inches long round 

 the neck, erect and stiff, and thus, when the animal 

 becomes dry, it appears considerably larger than 

 when in the water : their hairs are black, and in the 

 aged become tipped with white ; the females are 

 ash-coloured, and many are partly ash-coloured and 

 partly brown. The skins of the young are much 

 prized for clothing ; and Steller says, " When I was 

 in Behring's Island, I pi pared a garment for my- 

 self of a young one with my own hands, and will 

 ever retain a grateful recollection of it. The brain 

 was much larger, comparatively speaking, than that 

 of the Otter, and the primae viae was fifteen times 



