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■I. Some Account of the Phoca ; Vitulus marinus; 
or Sea-Calf , /hewed at Charing-Crofs, in 
Feb. 1 741 - $ . by Ja. Parfons, M. D. F. R. S. 
IfZ A S Authors have defcribed this Ani- 
Royal society, mal fo largely already, I fhall en- 
February tertain this Honourable Society 
with .only a few Remarks which 
occurred to me, upon taking as accurate a View as I 
could of it, which may conduce to furnifh a truer 
Idea of the Creature than we now have from Au- 
thors. 
The Figures given by Aldrovandus , Johnfton , and 
others (being Profils) lead us into two Errors: \Jl> 
They make a Cubit in the Fore- limb, which is not 
vifible in any Shape, from the Surface of the Body; 
and, 2 dly, make the pofterior Parts terminate in 
Two Fins, which on the contrary are a&ually webbed 
Feet (like thofe ofWater-fowl) confiding ofFiveToes, 
each having Three Articulations, and ending with 
Nails of a darkifh Colour. 
The Nails of the Fore-paws are very confiderable, 
being like the Paws of a Mole, contrived for crawling 
upon Land, and partly for fwimming, by a narrower 
Web between each Toe; but the hinder Feet are 
extenfive Webs, ferving alone to drive or row the 
Creature in the Waters. 
Rond e let ius, as cited by Gefner , blames Ariflotle 
for faying this Animal has Nails ; which is ftrange, as 
that Hiftorian is one of great Reputation ; for it has 
very confiderable ones. 
Ddd 
The 
