78 OARNIVORA. 



in his ' Mammalogie,' gives the number of incisor teeth as 

 four in each jaw. 



The young of this species are said by Pallas to be as 

 white as snow, and to shine like silver. 



It frequents the White Sea, ascending the rivers with 

 the tide, and is very plentiful ; also Lapland, Spitzbergen, 

 and the Northern Ocean to Behring's Straits. 



N.B. — By Keyserling and Blasius, and by Gray in his 

 ' British Museum Catalogue,' this Seal is made identical 

 with Phoca barbata. 



Phoca Monachus. 



Phoca Monachus, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 372 ; Schinz, Europ. Faun. 

 Pelagius Monachus, E. Cuviek ; Keys u. Blas. Wirbelth. Europ. 

 Phoca Monacha, Pallas, Zoog. Boss. As. 



Description'.— Four incisors in each jaw, the outer ones 

 the largest ; molars thick and conical, with only minute 

 points before and behind ; the first claw of the fore-foot 

 the largest ; upper lip thick ; bristles of the whiskers long 

 and even ; pupils of the eyes triangular ; orifice of the 

 ears very small, with no external appendage ; body smooth, 

 rounded. Hair rather short, very dense, and lying close to 

 the body. When wet, the colour of the back, head, tail, 

 and upper part of the paws is black ; the belly, chest, under 

 parts of the neck, tail and claws, muzzle, sides of the head, 

 and over the eyes, greyish yellow ; when dry, the blacker 

 parts become lighter, and the lighter parts more yellow ; 

 above each eye are two bristly hairs ; nails of the hind-feet 

 only rudimentary ; tail about 3 inches long, incapable of 

 motion ; is very intelligent, and easily tamed. 



Length of head and body, 10 or 12 feet. 



The most common species of the Mediterranean, but does 

 not appear to be anywhere numerous ; is occasionally taken 

 on the south coast of Prance and Piedmont ; on the coasts 



