ORDER CARNASSIER. 55 



verse waves of a deeper colour. The under 

 part is pale ; the inside of the thighs and four 

 paws yellowish. Three bands on the tail, and 

 the lower third blackish. In a domestic state, 

 it varies, as every one knows, in colour, in the 

 length and fineness of the fur, but infinitely 

 less so than the dog. It is also much less sub- 

 missive and attached. 



The Amphibious Animals 



Will form the third and last of the small tribes into 

 which we shall divide the Carnivora. Their feet are so 

 short and so much enveloped in the skin, that they can 

 use them on the earth for no purpose but creeping. 

 But as the intervals of the toes are filled by mem- 

 branes, they form excellent oars. These animals ac- 

 cordingly pass the most considerable portion of their 

 life in the sea, and do not come to land except to bask 

 in the sun, and suckle their little ones. Their elon- 

 gated bodies, the great mobility of their spine, and 

 the strength of its flexor-muscles, their narrow pel- 

 vis, their hair smooth and tightened, as it were, 

 against the skin, are properties, which combined 

 together, are well calculated to make them excel- 

 lent swimmers ; and all the details of their anatomy 

 confirm this opinion, and correspond with the result 

 of our first superficial observations. 



But two genera have hitherto been distinguished, 

 the Seals and the Morses. 



