On the Habits of the Phoca. 539 



V. — Notes regarding the distinctive habits of the Scotch Phocce or 

 Seals. By James Wilson, F. R. S. E., &c 



The genus Phoca of Linnaeus, comprising a large amount and a 

 considerable diversity of species, has like other great natural groups 

 been separated into several minor genera by modern naturalists. 

 The teeth differ considerably both in their form and position, and 

 when accurately ascertained and distinctly described, will no doubt 

 aid the systematic observer in his arrangement of the species. All 

 agree in having five toes to both extremities. Those of the fore 

 paws usually diminish in size from the innermost or thumb, to the out- 

 ermost or little finger, while on the hind feet the lateral toes are the 

 largest, and the others diminish towards the centre. The form of 

 the head, especially in the smaller species, usually bears resem- 

 blance to that of a dog, — while in their natural cunning and intelli- 

 gence, and in a their capability of being tamed and instructed, they ex- 

 hibit a still farther likeness to that sagacious creature. They prey 

 chiefly on fish, and are extremely destructive to salmon and other 

 gregarious species, along our shores, in estuaries, and at the mouths 

 of rivers. They seldom, however, ascend the fresh waters to any 

 considerable distance from the sea, — for the alleged occurrence of 

 seals in remote Siberian rivers and the inland waters of Lake Baikal, 

 is a fact which requires confirmation.* 



Although extensively distributed over the waters of the ocean, it 

 is in high latitudes (whether northern or southern) that seals occur 

 in greatest abundance, — such as inhabit tropical regions being, as it 

 were, insulated from their kind, and occurring in less numerous as- 

 semblages. The species are so vaguely described by voyagers, and 

 have been even as yet so indifferently characterized by naturalists, 

 that their geographical boundaries are by no means well defined ; 

 but we may rest assured that those authors are in error who de- 

 scribe our northern kinds as occurring equally among Antarctic ice- 

 bergs. All other animals have limits which they do not pass, and 

 seals are doubtless subjected to a corresponding restriction. For 

 example, the gigantic species called the sea elephant (Phoca probo- 

 scidea, Desm.) is never found in the northern hemisphere, while 

 such of the smaller southern species as have been examined, are 

 found to differ from those of corresponding size, which are native 

 to the European shores. Peron is of opinion that the Phocidce, in 

 reference to their natural location, form three great geographical 

 groups, of which two are northern (Atlantic and Pacific,) and one 



* See Kraehenninikow's Voyage en Sibirie et au Kamtschatka, T. ii. p. 421. 

 no. vi. w n 



