262 ORDER V. 



mollusca and algae, with some stones of consider- 

 able weight, seem to show that their aliments require 

 trituration after they are swallowed, and the great 

 bulk of their bodies, together with the aggregate of 

 other characters, constitute them the last genus in 

 the order of carnivora, and next on this side to the 

 true cetacea. 



Of the genus MACRORHINUS, the species 

 Mac. proboscidia^ or Elephant Seal, is described, 

 as far as yet known, in the Eighth Volume ; but 

 it seems that there are other species ; one we shall 

 distinguish by the name of 



Mac.heminasutm. Short- trunked Elephant Seal. 

 The mariner Goodridge found this on the Crozet 

 Islands, and during two years it served him and his 

 companions almost entirely for food, raiment, fire, 

 shelter of house, roof, and numerous other purposes ; 

 even the blood acting as a detergent much better 

 than soap. The descriptions of Anson and Cook's 

 Sea Lions did not at all answer to the animals he 

 saw, though in colour and manners there appeared 

 no great difference. " The large Sea Elephant is 

 about 25 feet long, and 18 round the body ; the 

 blubber often 7 inches thick." The hind feet he 

 described and drew with a pencil, to show in what 

 manner they differed from Lesueurs and Anson's 

 figures, which were shown him ; and by that sketch 

 (not ill made) the external toes of both feet gave 

 them, in juxtaposition, the appearance of a Roman 

 W, the three intermediate of each being totally sunk 



