Seals 



them, speaking of the Pacific species: "They resemble distorted, 

 mortified, shapeless masses of flesh; the cluster of big, swollen, 

 watery pimples, which were of a yellow, parboiled flesh-colour, 

 and principally located over the shoulders and around the neck, 

 painfully suggested unwholesomeness." 



SEALS 



(Family Phocidce) 



Seals are carnivorous animals modified for life in the water. 

 To this end their bodies are cylindrical, tapering away from the 

 middle; the limbs are short with the feet flattened and webbed 

 for swimming, the forward pair acting as paddles and the hinder 

 ones, which are placed close together and permanently directed 

 backward, forming a rudder or propeller. Seals have no external 

 ears and the first or "milk-teeth" are never fully developed, 

 being generally absorbed before birth. 



Seals while most at home in the water, come out regularly 

 on the shore, especially at the breeding season. They make their 

 way very clumsily on land, however, on account of the structure 

 of their hind feet, and are much poorer walkers than the eared 

 seals of the Pacific which can turn their hind feet forward. 



Seals are often popularly confused with whales, with which 

 they have no near relationship whatever, as can be seen at a 

 glance. Their dog-like head and hairy body bear evidence of 

 their much closer affinity to the land mammals, while the pres- 

 ence of hind feet and the absence of the broad, fish-like tail 

 further distinguish them from the whales. 



Seals occur in all oceans but are more plentiful toward the 

 poles. 



Our east coast species may be distinguished as follows : 



a. Front teeth (incisors) six above and four below. No bladder-like 



sack on the head. 

 b. Muzzle narrow, sloping gradually from the top of the head; 



first and second toes of fore feet longest. 

 c. Teeth large, rather crowded and set obliquely in the jaws. 



Harbour Seal. 



