CHAPTER VIII. 



Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd.} [Aberdeen 



STELLER'S SEA-LION 



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

 parative ease on land 



MARINE CARNIFORA: THE SEALS, SEA-LION, AND WALRUS. 



THERE are three 

 families of the Sea 

 C a r n i v o r a, the 

 Fur-seals, or Eared Seals ; 

 the Walrus; and the True 

 or Earless Seals. 



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 for- 

 wards beneath the body. 

 There is a distinct neck, and 

 on the flippers are rudiment- 

 ary claws. Some of the eared 

 seals have the close and fine 

 under-fur which makes their 

 capture so remunerative. 

 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 turns 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' sealskin 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 



136 



