ORDER CARNASSIER. 511 



different authors : but from it may be judged how far these 

 descriptions are insufficient and contradictory, and to what 

 extent it is necessary to clear them up by actual observa- 

 tion. 



The Morse (Tricheus,) has often been joined by au- 

 thors to the Lamantins, Dugongs, #c, but yet it materially 

 differs from them by one very important character. This 

 character is the possession of posterior extremities, like the 

 Seals, to which last animals they bear a much more general 

 resemblance than to the first mentioned Mammalia, which 

 the Baron, with his usual judgment and discrimination, 

 has more appropriately classed with the Cetacea. 



The teeth of the Morse are different from those of the 

 Seals, properly so called, in form, number and position. In 

 the upper jaw are two immense tusks or canines, arched 

 below, longer than the head, compressed laterally, and ob- 

 tuse at the extremities. Between these are two incisors, 

 scarcely apparent, and conformed like molar teeth. Be- 

 tween these again in the young Morses are some still 

 smaller and pointed. The molars are four in number 

 on each side: their form is cylindrical, and their coronals 

 obliquely truncated. Two between each of them fall out 

 at a certain period. In the under jaw but four molars are 

 observable like those in the upper on each side. There are 

 neither incisives nor canines, and the symphysis of this jaw 

 is prolonged like that of the Elephant, and sufficiently 

 compressed to find room between the two tusks. The 

 muzzle is considerably inflated, which is owing to the pro- 

 digious development of the alveoli of the tusks. The cra- 

 nium is rounded. No external ears ; the body is elongated 

 and attenuated in the hinder part. The tail is very short. 

 The fore-feet answer the purposes of fins or oars, like those 

 of the Phocae. The hinder ones are in the direction of the 

 body, and their two external toes are the longest. 



