SEALS. 



149 



Distribution. — This Seal, the second of the two species which 

 alone breed on the British coasts, has a wider and also a more 

 northerly distribution than the Grey Seal, being found not 

 only on both sides of the North Atlantic, but likewise in the 

 North Pacific. Northwards its range includes Spitsbergen, 

 Greenland, and Davis Straits; while southwards it is found 

 commonly on the northern shores of France and Holland, but 

 is stated to be rare in the Baltic. Formerly abundant, in 

 such localities as are suited to its habits, throughout the 

 British coasts, this Seal has now practically disappeared from 

 those of the more southern and eastern counties of England, 

 although even there an occasional straggler now and then 



Skull of Common Seal. 



makes its appearance, one such instance having occurred not 

 many years ago at Brighton. On the more rocky shores of the 

 western counties, as well as in Wales, it is, however, still far 

 from uncommon ; the same being the case in the northern 

 Enghsh counties. On the coasts of the Lake district, where 

 the shore is generally sandy and without islands, it is, how- 

 ever, decidedly rare, although, according to the Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson, a few old individuals occur now and again both 

 in Morecambe Bay and in the main channel of the English Sol- 

 way. On the coasts of the mainland of Scotland this species 



