RINGED OR FETID SEAL. 221 



The Fetid Seal is the smallest and most numerous of 

 the Phocidre. The length of the adult animal is from 

 2J to 4 feet. It is of a bluish-grey colour, the circular 

 marks on the back being dark ; the belly is almost 

 white. The Whitecoat is about 18 inches in length, 

 and some skins taken are only 6 inches ; it is 

 thickly covered with very dense coarse hair, almost like 

 wool. 



This species is found farther north than any other 

 Seal, and it keeps its breathing holes open even 

 when the surrounding ice is frozen to a considerable 

 depth. 



The Esquimaux take a certain number of these 

 Seals through holes which they cut in the ice, pro- 

 tecting themselves from the piercing northern winds by 

 a wall of snow erected near the opening. In fact, this 

 animal is almost invaluable to them ; it furnishes them 

 with food and lamp-oil, and from the skins they make 

 boats, coats, trousers, and boots. The skins are beauti- 

 fully dressed by them. In making boats, the hair is 

 removed, and several skins are sewn together, and 

 stretched so tightly over the framework of wood as to 

 render the boats impervious to water. 



The female is said to erect a small habitation of snow 

 over the hole in the ice through which it breathes. 



According to Clutterbuck, the kidneys of this Seal are 

 good eating. 



