266 URSINE SEAL. 



out, but smooth and polished within. The length 

 of the fore legs is about twenty-four inches, and 

 they are less immersed in the body than those of 

 other Seals : the feet are formed with toes, but are 

 covered with a naked skin, and have merely the 

 rudiments of nails, so that their general shape ap- 

 proaches to that of the fore feet of the small yel- 

 low or eared Seal, before described, giving them 

 the appearance of a turtle's fin : the hind legs are 

 twenty-two inches long, and are fixed to the body 

 behind, but are capable of being brought quite 

 forwards occasionally, so that the animal can rub 

 its head with them: these feet are divided into 

 five toes, separated by a large web, and are a foot 

 broad : the tail is only two inches long. The hair 

 is long and rough, and beneath it is a soft down 

 of a bay colour : on the neck of the male the hair 

 is upright, and a little longer than the rest. The 

 general colour of the animal is black, but the 

 hair of the old ones is tipped with grey; and the 

 females are cinereous. The flesh of the females 

 and the young is said to resemble lamb, and the 

 young are said to be as good as sucking pigs. 



The manners of this species are so well describ- 

 ed by Mr. Pennant, from Steller and others who 

 have had opportunities of contemplating them in 

 their native regions, that it is impossible to wish 

 for more ample information. They live in fami- 

 lies ; each male has from eight to fifty females, 

 whom he guards with the jealousy of an Eastern 

 monarch. Though they lie by thousands on the 

 shore, each family keeps itself separate from the 



