450 



CHARACTERS OF SEA-LIONS 



Fam. 1. Otariidae. — The family Oturiiclae ^ is no doubt the 

 least modified of the aquatic Carnivora. It is rational, therefore, 

 to commence the survey of the group with this family. They 

 have preserved, as already noted, the independence of the hind- 

 limbs ; the external ear is present, though small ; there is an 

 obvious neck, and the nostrils are at the end of the snout, as in 



Fig. 229. — Cape Sea-Lion. Otaria piisUla. x^^.. 



terrestrial creatures generally. The nails are small and rudi- 

 mentary, save those upon the three middle digits of the foot. It 

 is a singular fact that among the Otaries the angle of the lovi^er 

 jaw is " inflected as much as in any Marsupial." The literature 

 relating to this family is great, and it seems difficult to reconcile 

 the very varying opinions as to how many genera ought to be 

 admitted. Mr. Allen arranged the nine species which he allowed 



^ See es^iecially Allen, North American Pinnipedes, 1880. 



