THE URSINE SEAL. 267 



are thick, somewhat conical, or tapering towards the tail j their 

 greatest circumference is about the shoulders ; the weight of a 

 male is about eight hundred pounds. The head is round, and 

 the neck very thick j the muzzle projecting considerably, and 

 the forehead rising abruptly over the eyes 5 the lips are thick, 

 and serrated in the inside j the whiskers are long and white ; 

 the eyes are furnished with a fleshy membrane, answering the 

 purpose of an eyelid, with which they are frequently covered j 

 the eyes are large and prominent ; the iris black, and the pupil 

 emerald green 5 the ears are small and sharp pointed ; the 

 length of the fore-leg, which is not so much concealed below 

 the skin as in the other seals, is about two feet j the feet are 

 somewhat like the fins of turtles, formed with toes which are 

 covered with a naked skin, and they have no nails ; the hind- 

 legs are twenty-two inches in length, and are capable of being 

 brought forward, so that by bending the neck they are enabled 

 to scratch the head with them ; they have five toes, separated 

 by a web ; the tail is short, being only two inches long. The 

 general colour of the animal is black ; the hairs of old specimens 

 are tipped with grey -, the hair is long and rough, and beneath 

 it is of a soft downy texture, of a bay colour ; the hair on the 

 neck of the male is erect, somewhat resembling a mane -, the 

 females are generally ash- coloured. 



These animals, instead of flying from man, will advance 

 towards him in a body. When a company of travellers meet 

 them on the shore, they are forced to fight their way through 

 them j and if the seals are pelted with stones, they gnaw 

 the latter with their teeth, but afterwards attack the men 

 with redoubled fury, rending the air with the most tremendous 

 growling. They seem to be well aware of the effect of united 

 resistance and attack, and also of the utility of keeping in 

 masses and ranks j for should any one of them attempt to 

 retreat, those in his rear fall upon him, and compel him to 

 keep in the ranks, or kill him. Sometimes it happens, that 

 when one seal attempts to stop another, who is retreating, they 

 all begin to suspect each other of being inclined to fly, and, 



