ORDER CARNASS1ER. 499 



These differences, probably, appertain to the distinction of 

 sex, as this fawn-coloured Seal was a male, while the gray 

 specimens were females. 



The hairs are all silken, flat, pointed,harsh, and compact. 

 Their length rarely surpasses six or seven inches. The 

 skin secretes an oily matter, which contributes to secure 

 the animal from the effects of humidity. 



The Seals have five toes on the fore-feet, perfectly free, 

 and five on the hind, united by a membrane, which con- 

 stitutes them genuine oars, and both are armed with nails. 

 The hands are the only parts of the anterior limbs which 

 are external. The hinder limbs are parallel with the trunk, 

 and are visible only from the calcaneum. 



These animals are not less remarkable for the form of 

 their sensitive than that of their locomotive organs. A 

 short muzzle, orbits without brows, a broad front, and an 

 immense and rounded cranium, give them a physiognomy 

 not to be found in other Mammalia, <§fc. Their eyes, large, 

 round, and parallel with the head, have a pupil like that of 

 the domestic Cat. It dilates into a broad disk, in a feeble 

 light, but contracts in the open day. The eyelids are nar- 

 row, and seldom completely close. 



The animal does not appear to have occasion to clean 

 the surface of the eye so often as the other Mammalia. 

 When these organs move, the skin of the forehead and 

 cheeks form wrinkles," which show that the fleshy pannicle 

 takes a part in this motion. The third eyelid is tolerably 

 developed, and perfectly visible, but the animal would seem 

 but rarely to use it. 



The nostrils, situated behind the end of the muzzle, have 

 two longitudinal apertures which form nearly a right angle. 

 They are seldom opened, except when the animal is desir- 

 ous of expelling the air from its lUngs, or introducing fresh. 

 They then assume a circular form. Respiration in the 

 Seal is very quick, and extremely unequal, and often per- 



