224 CARNIVORA. 



it has not yet l)een ascertained to what purpose it 

 serves. 



This Seal inhalnts the Greenland Seas, especially 

 round Jan Mayen Island and Iceland, also Newfound- 

 land and Anticosti Island. In the latter it is said to be 

 possible to take it in the summer as well as the spring. 



The Bladder-nosed Seal is one of the three chief and 

 most abundant species of the Seals which are protected 

 by a close time established by Government. The 

 animals are captured in the same way as the other 

 species of Seals, on the ice, and many are taken off the 

 shores of Newfoundland with nets. 



The general colour of the adult animal is light 

 brownish-yellow, with large l)lack blotches or patches 

 scattered over the back, which is light blue. ]\Iany are 

 irregularly marked bluish-black, no two animals being 

 exactl}' alike. The length is about 8 feet, and the tail 

 is short — about 2 inches. The flippers are placed very 

 far forward. The skins of the adult animals are sold 

 chiefly for leather purposes, as imitation morocco, etc. 

 These skins require to be soaked in the tan -pits six 

 weeks. 



In the second year this Seal becomes light blue on 

 the back, and is hence called the Blueback. The belly 

 is lighter, almost white. The blue hair of the back is 

 about two-thirds of an inch long, and a white spot is 

 occasionally found on it. In the earlier growth, the blue 

 is of a deeper shade. At this age many skins are taken, 

 the hair being short, bristly, strong, and durable. A few 

 skins are sometimes dyed with spots in imitation of 

 Leopard skins, but most are dyed black or brown, and 

 used in the manufacture of shoe-trimmings, gloves, 

 muffs, etc. Dyed black skins are also used for busbies 

 and caps for the military in Canada, and some of the 



