MAMMALIA — SEAL. 



203 



pounce with her paws upon the head of the marten, in such a way that the 

 claws may destroy or wound its eyes, while her teeth are embedded in its 

 neck; and if she can accomplish that, the fate of the marten is decided. 

 That, however, if done at all, must be done in a moment ; and if it be lost, 

 there is no repairing the mistake. The spring of the wood cat is larger than 

 that of her opponent, and the cat takes up her position so that she shall, 

 if possible, alight upon his head with her full spring and impetus. To dis- 

 tract her attention, he keeps moving his head from side to side, and if he 

 succeeds in his object, he rushes to close quarters by a side movement. 

 If the spring of the cat takes proper effect, there is a struggle, but not of 

 long duration ; and it is the same with the opposite result, if the cat miss 

 and the marten fasten, during the short pause of exhaustion after the 

 spring." 



A singular animal has recently been discovered in the island of Java, 

 which seems the connecting link between the cat and ferret tribes. It has 

 the lengthened muzzle, and slender body of the latter, with the sheathed 

 and retractile claws of the former. Dr Horsfield denominates it Prionodon 

 gracilis. 



FAMILY III — AMPHIBIA. 



These animals have the feet short, enveloped in the skin, in form of fins ; 

 the posterior in the direction of the body ; number of incisors variable, often 

 six, and sometimes four above, more generally foiir, and sometimes two 

 below, 



THE SEAL.i 



This animal has its head round, like that of the human species ; its snout 

 is broad, like the otter's ; the eyes, large and elevated ; little, or no external 



1 P/ioca vituUna, Lin. The genus Phoca has six or four upper and two or four lower 

 incisors ; two upper and two lower canines ; ten or twelve upper and ten or twelve lower 

 molars. Molars all cutting or conical ; five toes on all the feet; tail short; eyes large; 

 nostrils closing at the will of the aninnal ; head round ; external ears wanting ; four ab- 

 dominal mammae. 



