6 



the body, which they terminate ; the bones are short, and strong ; the 

 five toes of the foot are filled up between with a flexible membrane, 

 which enables them to spread out when in action into broad webbed 

 paddles, and again in repose to fold together ; of these toes the lateral 

 ones are the largest, the others diminishing towards the centre. 



By means of these hind limbs, seals are principally rendered expert 

 swimmers, and perform their evolutions in the water with ease, 

 rapidity, and endurance. 



The body is elongated, conical, and tapers from the chest to the 

 tail ; it is clothed either with long, soft, compact hair, enveloping a 

 valuable under-fur, or with hair short, smooth, firmly adpressed to 

 the skin, and slightly unctuous. The mammae are ventral. The head is 

 round, with a large, full, fleshy muzzle, studded with long stiff bristles. 

 The eyes are large and dark, expressive of intelligence, and eminently 

 adapted for seeing under water. The ears are very small, mostly not 

 visible externally. The neck is long and flexible ; the cervical 

 vertebra, free. The sternum is usually composed of eight bones, to 

 which nine or ten pair of ribs are directly joined. The costo-sternal 

 ribs are cartilaginous. The dorsal line is without any protuberance. 

 The tail is very short, usually compressed, and placed immediately 

 between the hind feet. 



As might be expected from this peculiar structure, so admirably 

 adapted for the watery element in which they pass a great portion of 

 their lives, these animals when on the land are very ungainly in their 

 movements. It is only in a few species where progression appears to 

 be accomplished, though very awkwardly, in a manner similar to that 

 of the terrestrial quadruped ; while in others, it is attained by bending 

 or arching the extremely flexible back-bone, by fixing firmly the 

 posterior portion of the body on the ground, and then by suddenly 

 straightening out, in front, the whole frame. By a quick repetition of 

 this movement, a series of jerking leaps takes place, and, assisted 

 materially by the fore-paws, a speed is attained, especially on the ice, 

 sufficient to outstrip a man running in pursuit. 



Seals are eminently gregariouB, and consequently are seldom met 

 with except in large herds. They resort to the land for the purpose of 

 bringing forth and suckling their young which at a birth is commonly 

 one, very rarely two for basking in the sun, in the warmth of which 

 they delight, for repose and slumber during the night, and for shelter 

 from tempestuous weather. 



To ascend rocks or masses of ice of ordinary elevations, they fasten 

 their fore-paws, with the gripe of a vice, on inequalities, and uplifting 

 their unwieldy carcasses, they with tolerable facility gain the summit ; 

 but when the sides of these elevations prove too precipitous, they 

 await the swell of the wave, which wholly or partially floats them to 

 their purposed place of repose ; but in the latter case they cling with 

 tenacity to the face of the rock until another and larger wave lifts 

 them to a suflicient height. 



