PHOCA. MAMMALIA. 105 



preys on birds, leverets, rats, and other small quadrupeds. Numerous varieties occur 

 in domestication, distinguished by the arrangement of the colours, spots, or stripes. 

 The most remarkable are those totally white or completely black; but the va- 

 rieties most valued are those where the stripes are well-marked, hence called the tiger 

 cat, and the spotted cat of Spain. The fur of this last is short and brilliant ; the feet 

 and lips flesh-coloured ; and the fur spotted with irregular patches of pure white, 

 lively red, and deep.black. Desmarest, however, has remarked in a number of instan- 

 ces that the females of this race are alone spotted with the three colours. 



FAMILY III. AMPHIBIA. 



Feet short, enveloped in the skin, in form of fins ; the posterior 

 in the direction of the body ; number of incisors variable ; 

 often six and sometimes four above, more generally four ; 

 and sometimes two below. 



Gen. 79. PHOCA, Lin. Cuv. Geoff. Otaria, Peron. 



Incisors J or | or , canines -{-, molars -f or f-| or Jj-f ,= 30, 

 32, 34, 36, to 38. Molars all cutting or conical ; five toes 

 on all the feet ; tail short ; eyes large ; nostrils closing at the 

 will of the animal ; head round ; external ears wanting ; four 

 abdominal mammae. 



In arranging the seals as a family of his Carnasslers, Cuvier seems to have been 

 led by the structure of their teeth rather than their general form and habits, which 

 seem to connect them with the Cetacea. The "structure of the seal is admirably 

 adapted to its aquatic life. The nostrils are habitually closed, and the ears are shut 

 when the animal dives. All its movements on land are slow and painful. In walk- 

 ing, or rather crawling, it presses the fore and hind parts of the body alternately on 

 the ground, bending its back upwards. The claws of the anterior extremities assist 

 it in climbing, but the hind feet are only used in swimming. Seals are easily tamed ; 

 and one of the individuals of the species P. vitulirut^ preserved alive in the Menage- 

 rie at Paris, lived familiarly with two young dogs which were shut up with him ; 

 and when they leaped upon his back, barked and run from him, used to share in 

 their amusement, trailing himself with painful effort along the stones and mud to 

 approach them. In cold weather the dogs and seal lay closely together to keep each 

 other warm. 



Seals bring forth annually one or two young, which they suckle on land with much 

 apparent tenderness. They live in numerous flocks, and in the coupling season fu- 

 rious battles are fought by the males for the possession of the females. They inhabit 

 every sea, but chiefly those of the polar regions, and are killed in numbers for their 

 skins and oil. The appearance of the seal on a desolate rock suckling its young has 

 perhaps given rise to the fable of the Mermaid. 



Sub-Gen. 1. PHOCA, Peron. No external ears; incisors with a 

 simple edge ; molars edged ; toes of the hind feet terminated by 

 pointed nails, placed on the border of the membrane. 



* Head furnished with cutaneous appendages, or a kind of trunk. 



P. proboscidea, Peron. The Sea Elephant. Hair very thinly scat- 

 tered, gray ; claws of the fore-feet small ; occipital and sagittal 

 ridges very prominent ; incisors }. Twenty to thirty feet in 

 length. Seas of New Holland F. Cuv. Mem. Mus. vi. t. 3, fig. 1. 



P. Ansonii, Desm. (Phoca leonina, Lin.) Hair short, clear yellow ; 

 feet and tail black; claws of the fore-feet strong; incisors f. 

 From 12 to 20 feet long. Pacific Ocean. Schrcb. tab. 83, A. 



