CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEAL. 427 



animal's motions in the water. The tips of the toes are 

 equipped with strong claws, and the toes are united 

 together by a membrane, so that the feet form powerful 

 swimming-paddles. 



It must be owned that the physiognomy of the seal is 

 peculiar ; the peculiarity being due to the short snout, 

 the orbits without eyebrows, and the rounded conforma- 

 tion of the large skull. The general expression, however, 

 is characterized by mildness and intelligence. The ears 

 are small, and mostly indicated only by small apertures, 

 which the animal has the power of closing when beneath 

 the surface. The large eyes are on a level with the head ; 

 their pupil resembles that of the domestic cat, which con- 

 tracts in a full light, but dilates and grows circular in 

 the darkness. The dental system varies, but there are 

 always present three kinds of teeth, and the canines are 

 long and pointed. The tip of the large fleshy tongue is 

 slightly indented. On either side of the mouth project 

 long bristling hairs, like moustaches, which communicate 

 with nerves of considerable magnitude. The nostrils are 

 placed near the extremity of the snout, each presenting 

 two longitudinal apertures which form almost a right 

 angle. Usually they are closed, and it would appear 

 that the animal opens them only when it needs to exhale 

 the air from the lungs, and to inhale fresh atmospheric 

 air. The usefulness of this contrivance to an animal re- 

 maining long under water is very evident. Moreover, it 

 enjoys an extraordinary faculty of suspending the respira- 

 tory function for intervals of half a minute or more, 

 while at each inhalation it takes into its lungs a very 

 considerable quantity of air. 



With regard to the " senses " of the seal, it may be 



