BihUograpTiical Notice. 79 



figure in the first edition, with the characteristic tripods crowning 

 the antlers, although inferior in every other respect, gives a more 

 correct representation of the animal's usual appearance. 



Perhaps no portion of the work exhibits more favourably the ad- 

 vance of zoological knowledge during the last thirty years than that 

 which comprises the orders Pinnipedia and Cetacea, popularly known 

 as Seals and \\liales. The true seals (or Phocklcp), with the walrus 

 (Trichecus), the only representative of its genus, and the eared seals 

 (Otaridce) are comprised in the former order. We have no British 

 representative of the last-named family ; but the walrus, an arctic 

 animal, which has occasionally been killed on the northern coasts of 

 Scotland, in some respects constitutes a link between them and the 

 true seals, agreeing with the latter in its general anatomy, and with 

 the former in the peculiar mode of using its limbs when on land. 

 This is so well described by our author that we are tempted to quote 

 the passage. 



" Instead of resting on its belly and progressing by the action of 

 its abdominal muscles, as we have seen to be the case with the true 

 Seals, the walrus walks upright, though in an awkward and shufiling 

 manner, the fore paws being turned backwards, while the hind feet 

 are directed forwards and outwards. In its motions in swimming 

 also it holds an equally intermediate position ; for while the fore feet 

 are hardly used by the true Seals, and are the main organ of pro- 

 pulsion in the Otaridce, aU four limbs are employed by the walrus ; 

 as Dr. Pettigrew remarks, ' so far as the physiology of its extremities 

 is concerned, it may very properly be regarded as holding an inter- 

 mediate position between the Seals on the one hand and the Sea- 

 bears and Sea-lions on the other.' " (Page 270.) 



We recommend such of our readers as take an interest in this 

 subject to pay an early visit to the Zoological Gardens in the Re- 

 gent's Park, where they will find the accuracy of the above account 

 (as regards the different modes of progression, when on land, exhi- 

 bited by the true seals and the sea-lions) verified by ocular demon- 

 stration. Two living members of the Otaridce are now to be seen 

 in the seal-pond, the sea-lion (Otaria jubata) and a smaller species 

 {0. pusilla), both natives of the southern hemisphere — the former 

 from the Falkland Islands, the latter from the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Their intelligent and obliging keeper, Francois Lecomte, for whom 

 they exhibit the strongest affection, has succeeded in so thoroughly 

 domesticating them, as well as others of the common British species, 

 that they come on shore when summoned by his whistle, walk along 

 a plank that extends into the centre of the pond, and clamber up 

 into two chairs purposely placed at the further extremity for their 

 reception. Nay, we have even seen the sea-lion follow Lecomte into 

 an adjacent building furnished with a sliding door, and on the latter 

 coming out and shutting it, remain perfectly quiet inside until 

 ordered by him to open it for himself, a feat which he performed 

 with facility and expedition. 



We may here mention that a living example of that extraordinary 

 animal the hooded seal (^Cystopliora cristata) has been lately added 



