240 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



General description. 



From the general form of this animal we are 

 led to suppose, that it burrows in the banks of 

 rivers, or under ground, and that its food con- 

 sists of aquatic plants and animals. But the 

 structure of it is such as not to enable it to take 

 firm hold of its prey : when the two marginal lips 

 are brought together., the animal may have a con- 

 siderable power of suction, and in this manner it 

 probably draws food into its mouth. 



THE COMMON SEAL. 



THIS animal has an elongated body, covered 

 with short glossy hair of various colours, and ta- 

 pering from the shoulder to the tail. The head 

 is large and round; the neck small and short; 

 and each side of the mouth is garnished with se- 

 veral strong bristles. The eyes are large; and 

 the tongue is cleft or forked at the end. There 

 are no auricles, or external ears ; and conse- 

 quently the sense of hearing is not very acute. 

 The legs are remarkably short ; and the hinder 

 ones placed so backward, as to be but of little use 

 except in swimming. The feet are webbed, and 

 the tail is very short. The voice of a full-grown 

 seal may be compared to the hoarse barking of 

 a dog; but that of the young has a nearer re- 

 semblance to the mewing of a cat. 



They usually reside in excavated caverns near 

 the sea, but out of the reach of the tide. In the 



