168 COMMON SEAL. Class I. 



of the hind feet, was two feet nine inches, to the 

 end of the tail, two feet three inches ; the head 

 was seven inches long; the tail two and a half; 

 the fore legs were deeply immersed in the skin 

 of the body ; what appeared out, was only eight 

 inches long ; the breadth of the fore feet, when 

 extended, was three inches and a half; the hind 

 legs were placed in such a manner, as to point 

 directlv backwards, and were ten inches long ; 

 each hind foot, when extended, was nine inches 

 and a half broad; every foot was divided into 

 five toes, and each of those connected by a 

 strong and broad web, covered on both sides 

 with short hair. The toes were furnished with 

 strong claws, well adapted to assist the animal 

 in climbing the rocks it basked on ; the claws 

 on the hind feet were about an inch long, slender, 

 and strait, except at the ends, which were a 

 little incur va ted. 



The circumference of the body in the thickest 

 part, which was near the shoulders, was one 

 foot ten inches, but near the hind legs, where it 

 was narrowest, it measured only twelve inches. 

 The head and nose were broad and flat, like 

 those of the otter; the neck short and thick ; the 

 eyes large and black ; it had no external ears, 

 but in lieu of them, two small orifices ; the nos- 

 trils were oblong ; on each side the nose were 



