OTARIAD^. 



Cutting-teeth f in young, and | in adult ; grinders all single-rooted. 

 The anterior feet as large as the posterior ones ; the fingers decrease 

 in a curved line, destitute of claws ; the hind feet with five toes, very 

 gradually increasing towards the inner, all provided with claws; 

 palms and soles hairy in the young, becoming chaffy. Tail rudi- 

 mentary. Skull with no postorbital processes. A distinct alisphenoid 

 canal. Mastoid process strong and salient, with its surface conti- 

 nuous with the auditory bulla. The scapula, hinder margin nearly 

 straight, with the spine a short distance from and somewhat parallel 

 with it. Resting on its body with the fore feet extended and the 

 hind feet doubled under it, moving by the exertion of the abdominal 

 muscles. (See P. Z. S. 1853, p. 112.) 



1. TRICHECHUS. 



Trichechus, Gray, Cat. S. ^ W. p. 35. 



1. Trichechus ? 



Trichechus rosmarus, Schretick, Amur-Land, p. 179. 

 Inhab. North Pacific. 



Family 3. OTARIAD^. 



Nose simple ; muffle rather large, callous above and between the 

 nostrils. Ears with a cylindrical, external conch. Arms and legs 

 rather elongate. The fore and hind feet fringed. Pore feet fin- 

 like, with a scolloped naked membrane. Palms and soles bald, 

 longitudinally grooved, more or less triangular. Pingers gradually 

 diminish in size from the inner side. Hind feet elongate, narrow, 

 all clawless. Toes nearly of equal length, the outer one on each 

 side being rather the strongest (see Cat. Seals and Whales, p. 44, 

 f. 15). Three middle toes clawed. The fur is generally provided 

 with a more or less thick under-fur. Skull with a postorbital pro- 

 cess. An alisphenoid canal. Mastoid process strong and salient, 

 extending aloof from the auditory buUa. Cutting-teeth f , upper 

 often bifid ; canines conical ; grinders ^ or |-. The scapula is curved 

 backward to the upper angle, but with its spine or crest near the 

 posterior margin. Testicles enclosed in the small external scrotum. 

 They walk on their fore and hind limbs ; they rest with the hind 

 part of the body bent down, and the legs directed forward, like the 

 Morse. The females lie on their backs to receive the caresses of the 

 male ; and the young are born on shore and are gradually taught to 

 swim. 



Otariadse, Brookes, Mm. Cat. 1836, pp. 18, 28 ; Gray, Ann. 8f Mag. 



N. H. 18G9, iv. p. 268 ; Gill, Proc. Essex Inst. 1866, v. p. 7 j Allen, 



Bull. Mils. Comp. Zool. ii. p. 27. 

 Arctocephaliua, Gray, Cat. S. ^ W. p. 44. 



The Eared Seals (Otariadae) form a distinct family from the Ear- 



