THE MARINE CARNIVORA 197 



is longest, then the second. The third and fourth are shortest, 

 and the fifth is nearly as long as the second. Although the 

 general aspect of the hinder feet is to show a preponderance of 

 length on the part of the first and fifth toes, still this is nothing 

 like as much exaggerated as in the other sub-families of the True 

 Seals or as in the sea lions. As already remarked, the fore paws 

 (especially in this group) are much more similar in appearance to 

 those of the terrestrial Carnivora, though the first finger is the 

 longest. 



Thoca vitulina. THE COMMON SEAL 



The three last premolars and the molar teeth in the jaws of 

 the Common Seal and other allied members of the genus Phoca 

 are double-rooted. The head is round and short, and the eyes 

 very large. The aperture of the ear is not far behind the eye, 

 and is triangular in shape. The upper lip is thick and somewhat 

 overhanging. It is deeply scored with the parallel lines of the 

 insertion of the vibrissae, and these are long and abundant, as 

 they are in most seals. As already related of this family, the 

 aperture of the nostrils is directed backwards rather than for- 

 wards. The fore feet are short, and armed with strong, narrow, 

 sharp claws. The claws on the hind flippers are narrow, shorter, 

 and less curved. The adult of the common seal scarcely exceeds 

 5 ft., and females may show as small a measurement as 3 ft. 

 The neck of the common seal is rather short. 



The coloration varies much in individuals and according to 

 age. The young at birth is covered with a coat of thick, soft 

 fur, lemon-white in tint. In the species under review this woolly 

 coat is shed by the infant seal a few hours after its birth. In 

 some cases this woolly covering when shed seems to form a kind 

 of mat for the young seal to lie on. When the white fur has 

 been discarded, the bright little creature (and young seals are 

 beautiful with their large liquid eyes) is seen to be smoothly clad 

 with the shiny silky hair characteristic of the adult ; but it is 

 generally much more vividly spotted and streaked with dark on 



