62 MARINE AND AQUATIC TRESPASSERS. 



are for the purpose of straining off the water, and con- 

 ducting it so as to fall in streams away from the 

 animal's body. 



The reader may be reminded that the long hairs of 

 the great apes are used for a similar purpose. Those 

 of the upper arm are directed downwards, and those of 

 the lower arm upwards, so that they meet at the elbow 

 in a sort of point. When rain comes on, the animal 

 sits crouching together as closely as possible, with its 

 arms crossed and the hands resting on the shoulders. 

 The arms then act as a penthouse for the rest of the 

 body, the water running down them and pouring off 

 the long hairs at the elbow. 



As is the case with the whales, the external orifice 

 of the ear is exceedingly small, so that the water cannot 

 penetrate into the auditory apparatus. The lungs are 

 similarly guarded by means of the structure of the 

 nostrils, which are self-closed by their own elasticity, 

 and are held tighter together in proportion to the 

 pressure of water. 



It has been mentioned that the Seals produce their 

 young on the shore, or, at all events, out of the water, 

 thus differing essentially from the whale tribe, which are 

 unable to leave the water, even for a short space of time. 

 Sometimes the Seals proceed a little inland for this 

 purpose, and sometimes they remain upon the ice, 

 their two-fold coating of hair outside the skin, and 

 their single, but thick, coating of fat inside it, 

 effectually enabling them to endure contact with its 

 cold surface. A most remarkable history of the nursery 

 life of a Seal is given by Capt. Hall in his "Life among 

 the Esquimaux." 



