ORDER CARNASSIER. 497 



condly, by having the same teeth, however tuberculated, 

 provided simply with a single root, like those of the ceta- 

 cea, and, therefore, called cetaceous-teeth. 



It will save a great deal of description which, after all, 

 can never convey a perfect idea on this subject, to refer to 

 the plates of teeth of the Phocae ; and though we cannot 

 very conveniently delineate that part of the teeth which is 

 buried in the jaw, that is the root, it will be observed that 

 those species only are put in one plate, which have the 

 cheek-teeth furnished with several roots, and those, alone, 

 in the other, which have the simple root, or cetaceous for- 

 mation. The external parts of all of them will be immedi- 

 ately observed to present much diversity, nor can it be 

 supposed that such diversity can be unaccompanied with 

 analogous differences of impulses and habits. 



The harmony of nature is a constant theme of observa- 

 tion to the reflecting naturalist, and in no particular can 

 that harmony be more universal, or, indeed, more essen- 

 tial, than in the physical adaptation of the organs appropri- 

 ated to supply food to the animal, and in the impulses and 

 passions of the same: without adverting at all, therefore, 

 to the peculiarities of the root of the cheek-teeth of the 

 several species which compose the Phocae, it is impossible 

 to contemplate the differences which distinguish their ex- 

 ternal portion, without feeling satisfied, from analogy, that 

 the pursuits and habits of these several species must be as 

 various as are these physical differences. Our knowledge 

 of the differences of the modes of life of these animals, by 

 no means accords with what we now know of these differ- 

 ences of conformation ; we cannot, therefore, but conclude 

 that we have very much, as yet, to learn in regard to the 

 manners and habits of the Seals. 



Little more is known of the Common Seal, though an 

 inhabitant of our own seas, than of those which are met 



