9S 



Mammalia. 



in the hind feet, the outer and inner toes are the longest, and tlie intermediate conijiaratively &hort. 

 Their fore -feet are enveloped in the integuments of the body as far as the "\vriit, the hinder ahiiost to 

 the heel; between the latter is a short tail. The head of a Seal resembles tliat of a Dog; and they 

 have the same intelUgence and mild and expressive physiognomy. They are easily tamed, and become 

 much attached to their feeder. The tongue is smooth, and notched at the end, their stomach simple, 

 coscum short, intestinal canal long, and tolerably regular. These animals subsist on fish, which they 

 ahvays devour in the water, and are enabled to close their nostrils when diving, by means of a sort of 

 valve. As they remain long below the surface, it was supposed that the Jbrame/i ovale continued open 

 as in a fa:tus, which is not the case : tlicy have a large venous cavity, how^ever, in their liver, which 

 assists them in chving, hy rendering respiration less ueces^aiy to the motion of tiie bI^^od. The 

 latter is very abundant and very dark. 



Analogous to Caloce^jhala, The Seals:^, (properly so called, or without external ears), — 

 Have the incisors pointed; all their toes enjoy a certain degree of motion, and aru terminated by 

 pointed naiU placed on the edge of the eonneeting memljranc 



They may be divided acconbiig to the number of theli' incisors. In 



Ca/oc'ji/iala, F. Ciiv. \_Phoca, as I'cstrieted], — - 

 There are six above and four below. [The ehcuk-teeth have more than one root; and besides the 

 main cutting point, there is on each an anterior smaller one, and two posterior. The brLiJn is in this 

 division amply developed, and the intelligence proportionate.] 

 The common Seal {Ph. vitulina, Lin. ; Ph. littorea, Tbiem.) — Common on the coast of Europe in vast herds, and 



extending- far to the north. The European seas, 



^-^z — , however, contain several Phoca, which have 



been long confounded, some of which are per- 

 haps varieties of the others ; as Ph. hispida, 

 Schreb. ; Pk. anneUata, Nills. ; Ph./wtida, Falu., 

 &c. [Those of the Uritish islands much requne 

 elucidation.] A species more easily recog- 

 nized is 



The Harp Seal {P/t. i/rooilandica and occanicn, 

 Auct.), from the whole north of the globe. [Re- 

 markable for the difference in marking between 

 the adult male (fig. 37) and the female and 

 young: length five feet. It pertains to the British 

 fauna, as does also the next species, according to 

 rei^ort, for which the IJalichwriis grist-KS, how- 

 ever, has been generally mistaken.] 



Bearded SealtP/;. harhata, Fabr.), a northern 

 species, surpassing all the preceding ones m 

 size, which is from seven to eight fei-'t. Its 

 moustaclies are thicker and stronger than in the 

 Fie 37— Grut-iiiaDd Seal otlicrs. [.Several more are known from Ihu north- 



ern lienii--.phere.] 

 The Sterrincks {S7ciior/n/iicJ/".s, F. Cuv.) — 



Possess four incisors to each jaw, and cheek- 

 teeth deeply notched into three points (fig. 38), 

 [Imt with single roots : the muzzle slender and 

 much elongated; and very small claws]. 



r)ne only is known (J*/i. lep/oni/x^ BL), from the 

 Austral seas; size of the Bearded Seal. [An allied 

 species constitutes 



TuE Leptonyx {Lejj/o/n/.r, Gray) — 

 The grinders of which are bluntly three-lobed, 

 the muzzle broad and rounded, and hind feet 

 clawless. 



Oiaria Wcddell'd_ ^^esson.— Alsofruni the South Seaal. 



fit- 33.— Tcclh of Steirlnck 



