AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



to the tribe of fishes. We first observed the otter 

 With its feet webbed, and formed for an aquatic 

 life ; we next saw the beaver with the hinder 

 parts covered with scales, resembling those of 

 fishes; and we now come to a class of animals in 

 which the shape and habitude of fishes still more 

 apparently prevail,, and whose internal conforma- 

 tion attaches them very closely to the water. 

 The Seal, in general, resembles a quadruped in 

 some respects, and a fish in others. * The head 

 is round, like that of a man ; the nose broad, like 

 that of the otter ; the teeth like those of a dog ^ 

 the eyes large and sparkling ; no external ears, 

 but holes that serve for that purpose ; the neck is 

 well proportioned, and of a moderate length ; but 

 the body thickest where the neck is joined to it. 

 From thence the animal tapers down to the tail, 

 growing all the way smaller like a fish. The 

 whole body is covered with a thick bristly shining 

 hair, which looks as if it were entirely rubbed 

 over with oil ; and thus, far the quadruped pre- 

 vails over the aquatic. But it is in the feet that 

 this animal greatly differs from all the rest of the 

 quadruped kind ; for, though furnished with the 

 same number of bones with other quadrupeds, yet 

 they are so stuck on the body, and so. covered 

 with a membrane, that they more resemble fins 

 than feet ; and might be taken for such, did not 

 the claws with which they are pointed show their 



[* The Seal has six parallel fore-teeth in the upper jaw, the outermost 

 being larger; and four blunt, parallel, distinct, equal fore-teeth in the under 

 jaw. There is but one dog-tooth on each side, and five or six three-pointed 

 feiiuders.; and the hind-feet are united so as to resemble a sheep's tail.] 



