1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
359 
The Common Seal, 
'tvvze/^ 
In introducing the interesting family of the 
seals to the readers of the Agriculturist, we are 
happy in being able to present so beautiful and 
accurate an engraving. It represents the com- 
mon seal of our own coast, so abundant on the 
coast of Labrador, on the ice islands which, in 
the breaking-op 
of the northern 
winter, float along 
the north-east 
coast of America, 
and the most 
abundant of the 
Greenland seals. 
This seal, {Phoca 
vitulina,) is the 
type of the nat- 
ural family Pho- 
cidd, which in- 
cludes those ani- 
mals which have 
the same general 
form — the Wal- 
rus, Sea - Ele- 
phant, Sea-Lion, 
Harp Seal, Hood- 
ed Seal, etc. It has 
a fish-like form, 
the fore feet pro- 
jecting from the 
sides like fins, and 
the hind feet be- 
ing nearly united 
at the hinder end of the animal, and appearing 
much like the tail of a fish, or the flukes of a 
whale or porpoise. The tail extends down to 
the hind feet, and appears as an inconspicuous 
appendage between them. The body, which is 
of a brownish or yellowish-gray color, is cjdiu- 
drical for a short distance below the neck and 
shoulders, but tapers rapidly to the tail. The 
head is much like 
that of an intelli- 
gent dog, and the 
voice resembles the 
barking of a dog al- 
so ; hence the name 
Sea-Dog is not in- 
appropriate. The 
great intelligence 
of the seal is well 
known, and might 
be inferred from 
the size of its brain, 
which is propor- 
tionately larger 
than that of any 
other animal, ex- 
cept man and the 
most intelligent 
monkeys. The eye 
is most noticeable 
for its lustrous bril- 
liancy and calm 
look, expressive of 
intelligence far a- 
bove other brutes. 
The ears are sim- 
ple orifices, closed by valves or lids which shut 
water-tight, and a similar arrangement closes 
the nostrils, so that, when under water, none 
can enter to interfere with either hearing or 
breathing, when they come out again. Beside?, 
the ear valves have the additional advantage of 
giving seals the ability to hear with great acute- 
aess, while submerged. They have also the 
power of diving and remaining down fifteen or 
twenty minutes, and by their accuracj r of hearing 
they regulate the length of time they stay be- 
low, and the place where they come up. The 
lips are thick, and the large stiff and knotted 
bristles, or whiskers, which grow upon them, 
are exceedingly sensitive, and aid them greatly 
in catching fish, which is their almost exclusive 
the common seal — {Phoca vitulina.) 
diet. The neck, though short, is very lithe, and 
a seal can move its head about with the ease 
and facility of a duck, though lacking in grace. 
The limbs of the seal are like those of other 
quadrupeds, so far as this, — the}' consist, in gen- 
eral, of the same bones, similarly placed ; but, 
with the exception of the feet, they are concealed 
beneath the skin of the bodv. It is curious to 
•rue cinnamon beak — ( Vrsus Ami riettn us, var.cin lamomus.) 
observe, when the seal moves its "flippers," 
the motions of the apparently well-formed arm 
slipping about under the tight fitting coat. The 
home of the seal is the sea; on the land it is 
awkward, and comparatively helpless. In (act, 
a seal on the land appears to be in a straight- 
jacket, and as if, could one enlarge the arm- 
holes of its coat, he would do the animal a last- 
ing service. The extremities are fin-like feet, 
with webs between, and nails upon the toes. 
In swimming, the fore feet are used only in turn- 
ing, while the hind feet and tail propel the body 
forward, with a sculling motion, and great 
power. The skins of all seals are valuable ; they 
make good leather, and many are covered with, 
a very fine and beautiful fur, beneath a complete 
covering of long- 
er, coarse hair, 
which is removed 
when the fur is 
used. Some seals 
yield a valuable 
oil in great quan- 
tity, and these 
products are the 
basis of "fisher- 
ies" of vast im- 
portance. The 
seals are usually 
taken upon the 
ice and in the wa- 
ter, and many are 
captured by the 
Esquimaux. To 
these people they 
are as important 
as our flocks and 
herds are to us, 
for from them 
they obtain food, 
skins for tents, 
boats, and cloth- 
ing, and leather 
for boots, their most important merchandise, 
from some of the membranes, window panes, 
from the sinews, thread and cord, and from the 
bones, utensils, etc. ; besides, they use the oil for 
light and for fuel, and are fond of drinking it. 
The males are polygamous, having three or 
four wives, to which they are very devoted. 
During the time of gestation, the seals remain 
on shore chiefly, 
and, if pressed by 
hunger, feed on 
vegetables. They 
have one or two 
young at a birth, 
with which they 
early take to the 
water. A common 
seal will often yield 
eight to twelve gal- 
lons of oil; the size 
of adult animals va- 
ries, however, from 
three to six feet. 
Cinnamon Bear. 
The animals of 
that remarkable re- 
gion of North 
America, embraced 
between the differ- 
ent ranges of the 
Rot ky Mountains, 
are subject to many 
diverse climates and 
conditions of life. It is wet and cold, dry and hot, 
within the compass of comparatively few miles. 
It is not strange then, as it seems to us, that va- 
riations in color and other characteristics should 
occur which justify the hunters in considering 
the animals as different species from those they 
have known elsewhere, though they may be the 
same. The Ciunamon bear of the Rocky 
