CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 6. PINNIPEDIA. 



335 



ceived in the wars. The younger active sea-lions, with all the females and the cubs, lay together. 

 When undisturbed, they were often observed caressing each other in the most tender manner, 

 and their snouts met together as if they were kissing. The same author states that they come 

 on shore on those uninhabited spots to breed, and that they do not feed during their stay on 

 land, which sometimes lasts for several weeks ; they then grow lean, and swallow a consider- 

 able quantity of stones to distend the stomach. He adds that the stomachs of many of them 

 were found entirely empty, and those of others were filled with ten or twelve round heavy stones, 

 each of the size of the two fists. 



These animals appear to be much less numerous than formerly; they have also, no doubt, 

 somewhat changed their habits since the time of Cook, for recent voyagers speak of severe bat- 

 tles with these huge beasts on the shores of the Antarctic islands. 



Genus HALICHCERUS : Halkhcerus. — Of this genus is the Gray Seal, H. gryphus, found 

 in the Baltic and along the coasts of Ireland, and thence northward to Iceland. Its coat is white 

 and silky; it goes in small parties, which bark somewhat like dogs. The length is seven to eight 

 feet. There are said to be several other species of this kind of seal, among which is the H. 

 Antarcticus, but they have not been verified. 



It may be added generally, that there are doubtless some species of seal not known to natural- 

 ists, and not included in the preceding enumeration; but the most remarkable and interesting 

 kinds, especially those of commercial importance, will be found in the account we have given. It 

 may be well to state, however, that some naturalists mention the following species: Tortoise- 

 Head Seal, Phoca testudinea, inhabiting the European seas; the Lakhtak, P. LakhtaJc, found 

 on the shores of Kamtschatka; the Tiger-Seal, or the Sea-Dog, P. punctata, or P. maculata, 

 or P. nigra, found along the Kurile Islands and Behring's Straits; the Sea- Wolf, Phoca pusilla, 

 or P. par v a; the Otaria cinerea, and the O. albicollis, all found in the Australian waters; the 0. 

 coronata, and 0. flavescens, their locality not known; the Sea-Hog, 0. porcina, inhabiting the 

 coasts of Chili, and the 0. HauvilUi, found in the Falkland Isles. 





THE WALRUS. 



Genus WALRUS : Trichccus. — Of this there is a single species, T. rosmarus, which has the 

 various English names of Morse, Sea-Horse, and Sea-Cow; the French give it the titles of 

 Vache marine, Cheval marin, and Bete a la grande-dent. It differs in many particulars from the 

 seals, and especially in the cranium and teeth. In the adult lower jaw there are neither incisors 



i nor canines, and the lower jaw itself is compressed anteriorly, so as to fit between the two enormous 

 tusks or canines of the upper jaw, which are sometimes two feet long and proportionally thick, and 

 directed downwards. The great alveoli, or sockets for containing these formidable teeth, produce 

 the characteristic form of the skull of the walrus, and make the anterior part of the upper jaw pre- 



' sent an immense convex muzzle, the nostrils having an upward direction, and not terminating at the 



