434 



THE COMMON SEAL. 



cal, or, more correctly speaking, conical, for it diminishes 

 in bulk from the region of the chest towards the short 

 broad muzzle in front and the rudimentary tail behind. 

 Its large black shining eyes are protected by eyebrows, 

 formed of a few stiff hairs ; the ears, though scarcely 



visible, are fully developed. The principal characteristic 

 of the species seems to be the oblique disposition of the 

 molar teeth, which cause them to overlap slightly at the 

 extremities. 



The common seal is found in all the northern waters 

 of Europe, and at one time was a frequent visitor to the 

 western coast of the British Islands and the shores of 



