156 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY, 



usually retained for about a month after birth. The skin, 

 although used for clothing by the natives of Northern Green- 

 land, is not so much valued as that of the Common Seal. 



III. THE HARP-SEAL. PIIOCA GRCENLANDICA. 



Phoca grKtilandica, Fabricius, in Miiller's Zool. Dan. Prodr. p. 



viii. (1766); Bell, British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 252 



(1874). 

 Callocephalus grcenlandicus, F. Cuvier, Diet. Sci. Nat. vol. xxxix. 



p. 545 (1826). 

 Pagophilus groenlandicus. Gray, Cat. Seals and Whales Brit. 



Mus. p. 25 (1866). 



(Plate XVIII.} 



Characters. General colour tawny-grey or yellowish-white, 

 sometimes spotted ; males with a somewhat harp-shaped or 

 crescentic blackish mark crossing the shoulders and extending 

 down each flank, and the muzzle also dark-coloured. Cheek- 

 teeth separated, and arranged in a straight line. Total length, 

 from 4 to 5 feet 



The skull may be readily distinguished from that of either of 

 the preceding species by the circumstance that the free hinder 

 margin of the bony palate is almost entire, instead of being 

 deeply and acutely notched ; while the two branches of the 

 lower jaw, in place of diverging at once, are nearly parallel in 

 front. 



According to Jukes, the young of the Harp-Seal are white 

 until they are six or seven weeks old, during which period they 

 are termed "White-coats" in Newfoundland; at the age of one 

 year, small spots make their appearance, and in two years 

 larger spots ; while it is not till the third year that the males 

 (then called " Saddle-backs ") assume the characteristic dark 

 harp-shaped markings. 



