76 CAKNIVORA. 



Phoca Mspida. 



PAoca fcetida, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 377. 



Phoca Mspida, Schinz, Europ. Faun. ; Hamilton, Nat. Lib. vol. vi. 

 lidus, F. Chviee ; Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. 



Description. — Incisors 6 above, 4 below. The head is 

 short and round, the muzzle extending to about one-third 

 of the whole head ; whiskers white, with a few black hairs, 

 sharp, compressed, and a good deal curved at their extre- 

 mities; eyes small, pupil white, and the iris brown; the 

 body is almost elliptical and slender ; the back somewhat 

 gibbous ; belly flat, especially near the fore-paws. The hair 

 is thick-set, somewhat erect, rather long, soft, and fine, with 

 curly wool at its root ; the colour on the back is brownish, 

 intermixed with white spots, and on the abdomen white, 

 with a few brownish spots. The young are almost without 

 spots, with the back somewhat livid, and the belly white. 

 The old males have a very strong and disgusting smell. 

 The hairs of the coat, when dry, have a tendency to curve 

 backwards. 



Its length seldom exceeds 4^ feet, more commonly 4 feet, 

 with a perpendicular height of 10 inches. 



It inhabits the North Sea, and more doubtfully the Baltic. 

 In Greenland many thousands are taken annually for their 

 oil and skins, which are exported to Europe. 



Phoca barbata. 



Phoca barbata, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 378 ; Bell, Brit. Quad. ; Schinz, 



Europ. Faun. ; Keys. u. Blas. Wirbelth. Europ. 

 Calocephaltis barbatus, F. Cuviek. 

 The Great Seal, Bell, I. c. ; Pennant. 



Description. — Incisors 6 above, 4 below (Desmarest). The 

 teeth are nearly similar to those of P. vitulina, but are not 

 placed obliquely. The middle claw of the fore-foot is the 

 longest, and the outer ones the smallest and shortest, an 



