120 the ornithologist's guide 



Mustela Erminea, Linn. Ermine. — This 

 animal is pretty numerous in both countries, fre- 

 quenting the rocky cliffs, and is sometimes to be 

 met with along the sea shore : in the summer 

 months they are of a brown colour, and white in 

 winter, the change commencing in November. 



The remaining Quadrupeds are generally known 

 and present nothing peculiar. 



In the order Amphibia are the Seal and Otter, 

 of the former of which there are two species. 



Phoca vitulina, Linn. Selkie*. Common 

 Seal. — Seals are tolerably numerous on the shores 

 of Shetland, but not very plentiful in Orkney ; in 

 both countries they are more numerous in the 

 summer than in the winter. In Shetland they are 

 vulgarly known by the name of Tang Fish. They 

 vary much in size. 



Phoca barbata, Mull. Haaf Fish. Great 

 Seal. — This animal is considerably larger than the 

 common species, from which it differs in form and 

 habits ; the head is larger in proportion to the body 

 than in the common seal. The male is larger than 

 the female : they associate in pairs, frequenting 



