No. X. THE SEAL TRIBE. 



LIKE the whales, which formed the subject of 

 the preceding paper of this series, the Seal? 

 are inhabitants of the water, although they are not 

 entirely aquatic in their habits, as we shall presently 

 see. 



Supposing that we possessed no previous informa- 

 tion upon the subject, a single glance at their outward 

 structure would be sufficient to indicate to us the mode 

 of life for which these animals were intended ; for the 

 long, slender body, and the broad, webbed lirnbs, 

 formed almost like the fins of a fish, would at once 

 inform us that the water was their appointed habita- 

 tion. 



For an aquatic life the seals are singularly adapted. 



The form of the body allows them to pass through 

 the water with great facility, and the swimming powers 

 are so highly developed that the animals are enabled 

 to pursue and capture the fish in their own element. 



If the motions of a captive seal are watched, as the 

 animal disports itself in its tank, it will appear to pass 

 through the water without active exertion, the lithe, 

 supple body going through its manifold evolutions 

 without any visible means of propulsion. By looking 

 a little more closely into the matter, however, we may 

 find out the secret. 



The fore limbs have but little to do with the matter. 



