CHAPTER VIII. 



MARINE CARNIVORA: THE SEALS, SEA-LIONS, AND WALRUS. 



Photo Inj G. Tr. Wilson <k Co.j Ltd.] 



STELLER'S SEA-LION ; 



[Aberdeen^ 



are three families 

 1 of the Sea Carnivora, 

 the Fur-seals, or 

 Eared Seals ; the Walrus ; 

 and the True or Earless Seal?. 

 The first group, which 

 are called EARED SEALS, and 

 occasionally SEA- LIONS and 

 SEA-BEARS, have a small outer 

 ear, and when on land the 

 hind flippers are folded 

 forwards beneath the body. 

 There is a distinct neck, and 

 on the flippers are rudi- 

 mentary claws. Some of the 

 eared seals have the close 

 and fine under-fur which 

 makes their capture so re- 

 munerative. Under the skin 

 there is often a thick layer 

 of blubber, which is also 

 turned to commercial uses by 

 the sealers. 



The WALRUS stands by itself. It is a purely Arctic species, whereas fur-seals are found 

 from Bering Sea to the Antarctic ; and forms in some degree a connecting-link between the eared 

 seals and the true seals. Like the former, it tnrns the front flippers forwards and inwards 

 when on land ; but it resembles the true seals in having no external ears. The upper canine 

 teeth are developed into enormous tusks of hard ivory. 



The COMMON SEALS are the most thoroughly aquatic. The hind flippers seem almost to 

 have coalesced with the tail, and are always directed backwards in line with it. They have no 

 under-fur. On land they can only use the front flippers to aid their progress. 



Most seals are marine, though some are found in the land-locked sea of Lake Baikal, in 

 Central Asia, and the true seals often come up rivers. 



THE EARED SEALS, OR SEA-LIONS. 



These and the walrus have their hind limbs so far free that they can crawl on land and 

 use their flippers for other purposes than swimming ; they can comb their hair with them, and 

 walk in an awkward way. They are divided into the fur-seals and hair-seals in the language 

 of trade. The fur-seals are those from which ladies' seal-skin jackets are made; the hair- 

 seals are sought for their hides and oil. A demand has sprung up for the latter to make 

 coats for automobilists to wear when riding at high speed in cold weather. The "porpoise- 

 hide " boots are really made from the skin of the hair-seal. 



Both hair-seals and fur-seals have in common the remarkable habit of assembling in large 



The eared seal, or sea-lion, has the hind flippers divided, and is thus able to move with com- 

 parative ease on land; 



