64 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



portions, especially the latter. There are many species. 

 The common Seal, Fig. 45 (p. 62), is from four to five feet 

 long, and its weight is sometimes over 200 pounds. Its 

 head is rounded, and it has long stiff whiskers. Dr. 

 Kane's description of its appearance and habits is very 

 graphic. In some positions it has the appearance of a 

 dog. It has " a countenance between the Dog and the 

 Ape an expression so like humanity that it makes gun- 

 murderers hesitate." It often rolls and wriggles about 

 on the ice in the most grotesque manner, looking some- 

 times like an immense snail, then like a dog, and again 

 like a couching hunter. 



104. The Elephant Seal, Fig. 46, is the largest known 



species. It is from 

 twenty to thirty feet 

 long, a full grown 

 male yielding about 

 seventy gallons of oil. 

 This Seal is found 

 in the Atlantic, Pa- 

 cific, and Southern 

 Oceans. It lives in 

 troops, migrating to- 

 ward the tropics in 



winter, and return- 

 Fig. 46. Elephant Seal. ing toward the south 

 pole in summer. It has its name on account of the long 

 snout, which is a little like the proboscis of the Elephant, 

 and more like that of the Tapir. When enraged, it thrusts 

 this forward, at the same time snorting loudly. Though 

 a formidable-looking animal, it never attacks man, but 

 only makes a show of its large teeth to frighten him. It 

 is sought after for its oil, and for its skin, which is much 

 used in making stout and thick harness. The Fur Seal, 

 found in the same quarters of the globe, has been here- 

 tofore largely taken for its skin, but it has been much 

 thinned off, as the number taken amounted sometimes to 

 over a million in a year. 



