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Ctstophoea CEISTA.TA. ErxUhen. Crested or Hooded Seal. 



Synonyms — Phoca cristata, Erxl. 



JPhoca mitrata, Cuvier. 



Custophora cristata, Nilsson. Gray, B.M.C., 1866, p. 41. 



Stemmatopus cristatus, Y. Cuvier. 



Stemmatopus mitratus, Grray. 



Fhoca leonma, Linnseus. 



Hooded Seal, Pennant. 



Bladder-nose of Sealers. 



This seal is from 8 to 12 feet in length, and in the different stages of 

 growth varies considerably in colour, which in the full-grown male is 

 dark brown, approaching to black, relieved by numerous largish, 

 irregularly shaped rings of a greyish hue, scattered over the body. The 

 young are much lighter coloured, from grey to brown-grey along the 

 back, with the abdominal portion white. 



Speculative writers have ascribed to this bladder-like appendage 

 many uses to whicb it can be beneficially applied — such as, that, being 

 connected with the nostrils, it is subsidiary to the sense of smell, — 

 that it is a reservoir for air, to be consumed when under water, — that 

 the head can be buried in it, as in a monk's hood, — and that it can be 

 drawn over the eyes, like a cap, to defend them against the storms, 

 waves, stones, and sand. I need scarcely say that to attribute such, 

 properties to this peculiar sac is purely hypothetic ; for the young 

 males — even up. to three years old — and all the females, exhibit this 

 peculiarity only in a rudimentary state, yet have their faculties in or 

 out of water as keenly developed and as well protected from those 

 injuries to which they are alike exposed. This dilatable globular 

 appendage on the top of the head, however, clearly indicates — in "this 

 species — the puberal maturity of the male, and serves to modulate the 

 voice, and to give it those inflections of tones so highly expressive of 

 desire or rage. 



Inhabits the North Atlantic. 



This animal, the Harp, the Einged and the Common Seal, are objects 

 of extensive capture chiefly for the sake of their skins, which, by care- 

 ful preparation, can be applied to many useful and ornamental 

 purposes. 



By the natives of Greenland every portion is converted to some 

 valuable use : the flesh, the oil, and the blood, are greedily consumed ; 

 their houses are covered with, and their boats made of, the skins of the 

 older animals ; and these are firmly sewn together by the strong fibres 

 of the sinews ; while the soft fur furnishes various articles of apparel ; 

 the stomachs are converted into fishing buoys ; the semi-transparent 

 internal membrane provides the substitute of glass for their windows ; 

 and the teeth form their spear-heads. 



