ORDER OF AMPHIBIA. 105 



Cats. [In the dark, tlieir eye produces brilliant ligtt, as do also 

 those of the Sea-bears.] Their hearing must be very weak, since the 

 organs of this sense have no exterior conch for catching the sounds ; 

 the sense of smell does not seem to be very acute. The touch is 

 exercised apparently by means of the long and hard hairs which 

 adorn the upper lip ; for they abut upon nerves of a remarkable 

 size. As for their taste, it is altogether rudimentary, if one judges 

 of it by the gluttony of these Amphibia. They often swallow 

 their prey whole, without chewing it, although they can only do 

 so after most energetic efforts. When it is too big to be devoured 

 aU at once, they divide it into many morsels, by the action of their 

 teeth or nails, and swallow without taking the trouble of masti- 

 cation. 



The voice of the Common Seal, Phoca vituUna (Fig. 27), consists 

 of a sort of bark, analogous to that of a Dog. When it is irritated 

 it makes a noise like an angry Cat, and shows its teeth. Certain 

 species pronounce distinctly the syllable -pn, many times in succes- 

 sion. This is enough for the speculators in wonderful exhibitions 

 to hang out, as a bait for the credulity of marvel-hunters, a 

 notice that within is to be seen an extraordinary animal, a 

 marine monster, which says ^jo/^a and mamma as well as you or I 

 could do. 



Seals have almost the same habits as Walruses ; but they are 

 not confined, as are the last-named Amphibia, to the frozen seas 

 of the north, although they are more niuncrous, and generally 

 stronger there than anywhere else. They [or rather Sea-bears] 

 abound equally in the southern seas. They are to be met with on 

 all the coasts of Europe, and even in certain lakes or interior seas, 

 such as the Caspian Sea, the lake Baikal, and, lastly, the lakes 

 Ladoga and Onega (Russia in Europe), if we are to believe certain 

 authors. They live in large troops in the creeks, the bays, and in 

 the midst of the archipelagoes fidl of rocks. 



All the species do not choose the same sites for their resort ; 

 some prefer sandy shores sheltered from the winds, others 

 select those rocks which are constantly beaten against by the 

 waves, while again some choose a beach thickly covered with sea- 

 weed. They love, above all, the tempest, the roaring of the waves, 

 the whistling of the wind, the mighty voice of the thimder, and 

 the vivid flashings of the lightning. They delight to see, roUing 



