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 
Zam: 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 
Ria troops, migrating to- 
veh lie ffi: - ward the tropics in 
SUNN NTS : 
——————————— 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 sometimés to 
over a million in a year. 
=—_ 
