510 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



thick, rough, and stiff hairs, about three inches long, of a 

 deep yellow or tan-colour, falling over the forehead and 

 cheeks, and forming a mane on the neck and chest, which 

 is erected when the animal is irritated. On the rest of 

 the body the hairs are short and soft, of a brownish-yellow, 

 and lying close to the skin. The female has no mane, and 

 the whole animal is covered with the soft hairs which are of 

 a lightish colour. 



The habits of this species are very similar to those of the 

 last. Forster tells us that the voice of the male is like the 

 roaring of a Lion or an irritated Bull, and that of the fe- 

 male like a Calf or a Lamb. The old males live separate 

 from their females out of the times of sexual intercourse, 

 but during these periods form families or societies like the 

 Sea Bears. 



As for the other species of the Seals, they are very little 

 known, and what little is known is not particularly inte- 

 resting to the general reader. Nothing can be more con- 

 fused, contradictory, and unsatisfying than the reports of au- 

 thors on this subject. In his Ossemens Fossiles, the Baron 

 has done a great deal to introduce clearness, arrangement, 

 and authenticity into the zoology of the Phocse. To follow 

 him, however, would suit neither the character of our pre- 

 sent work, nor the limits to which it must necessarily be 

 prescribed. Nor would the result be very satisfactory in 

 regard to establishing the species. With the exception 

 of a few, and these we have principally mentioned, his ob- 

 servation rather tends to throw discredit and doubt on the 

 many species noticed than to authenticate or illustrate them. 



In the table we shall simply follow M. Desmarest, as far 

 as our plan permits. When Cuvier himself is unable to come 

 to a determinate list of species, and of their synonyms it 

 would be presumptuous in us to attempt it. OfM. Des- 

 marest's Table the Baron says, that it is a very complete 

 collection of the descriptions of Seals to be met with in 



