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THE CRESTED SEAL. 



It does not appear to be a very large animal, as the average length of the largest speci- 

 mens is scarcely ten feet. Around the largest part of the body, the circumference measures 

 nearly six feet and a half, round the root of the tail about two feet three inches, and round 

 the neck barely two feet. It was recorded by Captain Weddell to have been seen off the 

 South Orkneys. Some specimens in the British Museum were taken off the eastern coast of 

 Polynesia. As far as is yet known, these animals are only found in the Southern hemisphere. 



THE CEESTED SEAL is a very curious animal, being chiefly remarkable for the singular 

 structure to which it is indebted for its title. 



The head of the Crested Seal is broad, especially across the cranial region, and the muzzle 

 is very short in comparison with that of the preceding animal. The teeth are also rather 



CRESTED SEAL. Cystopliara cristata. 



remarkable. The wonderful protuberance which decorates the head of this species with a 

 projecting crest is confined to the adult males, and even in them is not always conspicuously 

 elevated. It is slightly represented in the figure. In the females and the young of both sexes 

 it is hardly perceptible. 



Prom the muzzle arises a cartilaginous crest, which rises abruptly over the head to the 

 height of six or seven inches, and is keel-shaped in the middle. This crest seems to support 

 the hood-like sac or cowl which covers the head, and is nothing but an extraordinary develop- 

 ment of the septum of the nose, the true nostril opening at each side of it by oblong fissures. 

 The sac is covered with short brown hair, and as it can be inflated or allowed to collapse at 

 the pleasure of the owner, it presents a very grotesque sight. 



The real object of this appendage is not known. Some writers lean to the opinion that it 

 is intended to aid in some manner the sense of smell. This conjecture, however, seems to be 

 worthless, as in that case the females and the young would equally need its assistance with 

 the adult males. 



Whatever may be the true purport of this crest, it is frequently of great service to the 

 animal in moments of danger. It is well known that the Seals are peculiarly sensitive about 

 the region of the nostrils, and that a comparatively slight blow upon the nose will suffice to 

 stun a Seal that would be but little affected by the heaviest blows upon any other portion of 

 its body. The Crested Seal, however, finds his air-filled helmet of truly invaluable service to 

 him in deadening the force of any stroke that may be aimed at his nose ; for, as has already 



