MAMMALS. 
81 
Sub-order PINNIPEDIA. 
Family TRICHECHID^. 
Trichechus rosmarus, L. Walrus. 
Family PHOCID^. 
Phoca vitulina, i. Common Seal. 
iSTot uncommon at some localities, especially in the firths of 
the north coast, and occurring all along the coasts in the 
west. Another resort on the east coast is a sandbank at 
the entrance of the Dornoch Firth, visible from the town 
of Tain. Here they used to lie in large numbers, though 
lately a good many have been killed with punt guns, one 
man killing three and wounding two with one shot : these 
latter were afterwards found. Another resort is the Little 
Ferry, where they come in and out with the tide. 
" Common, but not nearly so abundant as in my younger days." 
(William Reid.) Mr. Eeid continues : " Several specimens 
have been got within a short time by our fishermen, a con- 
siderable distance out at sea, by their having been hooked 
or entangled on their fishing gear;" and in January 1886 
Mr. Eeid relates how one was caught by a " murderer " or 
" ripper," whilst fishing for cod, by a Captain Eobert Taylor. 
Low, in his Fatma Orcadensis (p. 18), says : " Seals seem to 
be subject to a plague or murrain. About four years ago 
they drove ashore around our coasts in scores ; likewise in 
Caithness many of them were found dead." Low also men- 
tions the Pightland (Pentland) Skerries as a place where 
seals abounded (1813). 
Phoca hisplda, ;S^c/ire&. Ringed or Marbled Seal. 
Phoca grselandica, Fahridus, Harp Seal. 
Mr. Houstoun tells us he has killed a specimen of this seal at 
Kintradwell ; we saw portions of its skin after it had been 
