CLASS I. MAMMALIA: 
ORDER 6. 
PINNIPEDIA. 
329 
A GHEBNLANDEE SPEARING A SEAL. 
bo the other side of the light boat, the kajah would he drawn under the waves. Then, unless the 
Ireenlander has presence of mind and dexterity to disentangle himself, he is lost. ISTor is this all 
Ithe danger, for the dying seal may attack him; and if it be a female followed by young ones, she 
rill not unfrequently turn on the pursuer, injure him, or bite a hole in his kajak and sink it. 
The Marbled Seal, C. discolor. — This seal is a native of the coasts of France, and was at first 
thought to be a variety of (7. viticUmis, or one of that species exhibiting a modification of color 
from age or sex. Cuvier observes that it does not appear to be a variety of the last named 
species, proceeding from age and sex only; but he adds, that its cranium does not show a sensible 
variation from that of the common seal. Professor JSTilsson regards it as a distinct species, giving 
jt the name of C. annellatus. It was one of this species in the Garden of Plants at Paris of which 
^-e have given M. F. Cuvier's interesting description. 
Other species of this genus are the Kenalit or O. Oceavkus the White-tailed Seal, C. albi- 
\caudus; the C. lagurus ; the Rough Seal, or Neitsek, C. Tiispidus ; the Urksdiv, C. barbatus ; 
[Thieneman's Seal, C. scojmlicolus ; the C. leucopla, and the Shore Seal, C. littoreus^ 
Genus STENORYNCHUS : Stenorynchus. — Of this there are two species, the Small Nailed 
)Eal, S. leptonyx^ a native of the Falkland Islands and New Georgia, and the Sea Leopard, S. 
leopardinis^ found in the South Shetland Islands. "We have little knowledge of either species. 
Genus PELAGIUS : Pelagkis. — Of this there is a single species, the Monk Seal, P. monachus, 
seven to twelve feet long, and found in the Adriatic. It is that species whose skins were always 
Icarried before the Emperor Augustus as a protection against lightning, the Romans generally re- 
garding seal-skins as possessing this protective power. 
Genus STEMMATOPE: Stemmatojnis. — Of this there is a single species, the Crested, or 
[ooDED Seal, aS'. cristatus, remarkable for possessing, about two inches from the extremity of 
Ithe upper jaw, on the superior surface, a cartilaginous crest, which rises, increasing rapidly in 
height as it passes backwards, about seven inches high at its posterior or vertical edge, which is 
separated into two planes by an intervening depression an inch deep. The superior edge is 
slightly convex, and the whole structure is an elongation of the septum of the nose, the true nos- 
[trils opening on each side of it by an oblong figure. This crest runs into the hood or sack-like 
ippendage of the head. The hood is strongly muscular, with an aggregation of circular fibers 
round its external orifices, which are two, situated at the lower anterior part of the head. The 
Ifemales and young have the crest in a very rudimentary state. The length is eight feet. 
Vol. I.— 42 
