SEA 
impofed on, when informed, that the fpecimen he 
faw in the French king's cabinet was imported 
from India ; Dampier, and many modern voyagers 
to the Eaft Indies, aflerting that they never met 
with any Seals there. 
Seal, Ursine j the Phoca Marina of Lin- 
nseus. This animal, called alfo the fea-bear, is 
iifiially found as an aflbciate with the manati, and 
fea-lion, which feem divided between the north- 
eaft of Afia and the north-weft of America, in the 
narrow Teas between thofe vaft continents. From 
June to September they inhabit the iflands fcat- 
tered between Kamtfchatka and America, for the 
purpofe of generation; and there bring forth their 
young in perfe6t fecurity. In September they 
quit their ftations, gready emaciated ; fome return- 
ins: to the Afiatic, and others to the American 
fhores; but, like the fea-otters, are confined to 
thofe feas between latitude 50. and 56. 
The Urfme Seals, or fea-bears, lead a moft in- 
dolent life during the three fummer months. 
When they firft arrive on thofe iflands, they are 
extremely fat; but while they remain there, con- 
fine themfelves for whole weeks to one particular 
foot, fleeping a great part of the time; eat no- 
thing; and are totally inaftive, except that the 
females fuckle their young. They live together 
in families; each male having a confiderable num- 
ber of females, whom he watches with all thejea- 
ioufy of an eaftern monarch. Though they are 
affembled by thoufands on the fhores, each family 
is feparated from the reft. The old male ani- 
mals, v/ho are either deftitute of females, or de- 
ferted by them, live apart; and are exceffively 
fplenetic, peevifh, and quarrelfome. They are 
remarkably fierce; and fo attached to their old 
haunts, that they will fooner die than relinquifti 
them : and if another animal approaches their fta- 
tion, they are immediately roufed from their in- 
dolence, and fnap at it; Vi^hen a combat generally 
enfues. In the conflift, however, they perhaps 
intrude on another's premifes ; which inftantly ex- 
citing his indignation, the difcord foon becomes 
univerfal. 
The more fortunate males are alfo very eafily 
offended. The principal caufe of their difputes 
is, when another attempts to feduce one of their 
miftreffes, or a young female of the family: this 
infult infallibly produces a combat; and the con- 
queror is immediately attended by the whole fe- 
raglio, which always deferts the vanquifhed. 
Sometimes a quarrel arifes from their interfering 
in the difputes of others; and their battles are ge- 
netally terrible: the wounds they give and receive 
are very deep, refembling the cuts of a fabre; 
and, at the conclufion of a fray, they generally 
plunge into the fea, in order to wafh away the 
blood. 
The male Is extremely affe6tionate towards his 
young; and if any perfon endeavours to remove 
his cub, he ftands on the defenfive, while the fe- 
male carries it away in her mouth: but, if fhe 
fhould happen to drop it, the male immediately 
quits the aggreffor in order to chaftife her, whom 
he beats againft the ftones till fhe is almoft ready 
to expire. On her recovery, fhe prefents herfelf 
before the male in the moft fuppliant pofture, 
falling down fubmifTively at his feet, and bathing 
them witli her tears; while he continues ftalking 
about in the moft infulting manner. But if the 
cub is carried quite off, the male then exhibits 
every fymptom of the moft undifTcmbled grief : 
Vol. II. ■ 
SEA 
and as the female ufually brings forth bilt one a£ 
a time, and never more than two, he is probably 
on that account more fenfibly affefted with his 
lofs. 
Thefe animals are extremely nimble in the wa- 
ter, fwimming at the rate of feven miles an hour: 
and, when wounded by their enemies, they will 
fometimes lay hold of the boat; and dragging it 
along with vaft impetuofity, fink it to the bot- 
tom. 
The male is confiderably larger than the fe- 
male; and the body of each is of a conic form, 
being very thick before, and tapering to the tail. 
The length of a large Seal is about eight feet; the 
grcateft circumference about five; and the weight 
about eight hundred pounds. The nofe proje£ls 
fomewhat like that of a pug-dog; the noflrils are 
oval; the lips are thick; and the whifl-cers are 
long and white. When the mouth is cJofed, the 
teeth lock into each other: in the upper jaw there 
are four cutting-teeth, each having two prongs; 
and on each fide there is a fmall fliarp canine 
tooth bending inv/ards, with a larger one near it. 
The grinders, which refemble canine teeth, are fix 
in number, in each jav/; there are four cutting 
and tv.'n canine teeth in the lower jaw; and the 
whole number is thirty-fix. The tongue is bifid; 
the eyes, vv'hich are large and prominent, the ani- 
mal can cover at pleafure with a f^efhy mem- 
brane ; and the ears, which are fmall and fharp- 
pointed, are hairy without, and finooth within. 
The fore-kgs, which are about two feet long, are 
furnifhed v/ith toes, covered with a naked fkin^ 
fo that externally they feem a fhapelefs mafs, and 
have only the rudiments of nails to five latent toes. 
The hind-legs, which are about twenty-two 
inches long, are affixed to the body quite behind^ 
in fome degree like thofe of common Seals; but 
this animal is capable of bringing them forward, 
and even ufes them on fom.e occafions : thefe mem- 
bers are about a foot broad, and divided into five 
toes, each feparated by a large web. The tail is 
fcarcely two inches long. 
The hair of thefe animals is long and rough; 
beneath which there is a foft bay-coloured down: 
the general colour is black; but the hair of the 
old ones is tipt with grey; that of the females is 
cinereous. The flefti of the old males is excef- 
fively naufeous, but that of the females refembles 
lamb; and the young ones, when roafted, are as 
delicate as fucking-pigs. 
Forfter informs us, that the very cubs of the 
Sea-bear, or Urfine Seal, on the ifland of New 
Georgia, were fo extremely fierce, that they barked 
at the failors as they palled along, and even at- 
tempted to fnap at their legs. 
Seal, Bottle-Nose ; the Phoca Leonina of 
Linnseus. A name given by Pennant to the fea- 
lion of Bufron, Dampier, and others. 
Seal, Leonine. An appellation by which 
Pennant expreffes the fea-lion of Cook, Forfter, 
Fernetti, and fome others. It differs confider- 
ably from the phoca leonina or fea-lion of 
LinnjEus. The nofe is flightly reverted; the 
head is large; the whifkers are long and thick; 
and on the neck and fhoulders of the male there 
is a large mane of coarfe, long, waving hair: the 
reft of the body is covered with a very fhorr, 
fmooth, and gloffy coat. The colour is wholly a 
deep brown. Thofe of the Kamtfchatkan feas 
are reddifh; and the females are tawny. 
The fore-feet of this animal refemble the Urfine 
3 U Seal's, 
I 
