BEARS AND SEALS. 
49 
distinct is the Indian Sloth-Bear, Melursus ursbms ( 633 ), 
differino; from the rest in the form of its snout and the number 
of its teeth, which are remarkably weak. It is the only member 
of the family found in Peninsular India. 
In the same case (No. 27) are shown casts of the teeth and 
jaws of the extinct animals known as Hyamardus ( 528 , 529 ), 
which, with other forms, constitute a connecting-link between 
the Dogs and the Bears. 
This case likewise contains a few casts of the remains of 
the still o\diev Hyamodon ( 632 ), an animal representing a large 
group of extinct Carnivora which belong neither to the modern 
Fissipedia nor to the Pinnipedia, but constitute by themselves a 
separate subordinal group, the Creodontia. Their teeth are of 
a tvpe quite different from those of existing Carnivora. Pemains 
of numerous representatives of the group are exhibited in the 
Geological Department. 
The Fin-footed Clarnivora, or Carnivora Pinnipedia, consist 
of the Seals and their allies, and are distinguished by their 
limbs being developed into flippers and adapted for movement 
in the water, while they are almost useless on land, a modi- 
fication foreshadowed in the hind-limbs of the Sea-Otter. They 
have very short tails, close fur, and large eyes, and possess the 
power of closing their nostrils and ear-openings. Living for 
the greater part of the year in the sea, generally close to the 
shore. Seals sometimes wander far from land, to which, however, 
or to floating ice-floes, they resort in the breeding- season to 
bring forth their young. Their food consists almost entirely of 
fish, varied with crabs and cuttlefish, while the smaller species 
in their turn are preyed upon to a great extent by certain of 
the toothed "Whales, such as the Killer (Orca gladiator). 
An enormous number, both of the Eared and True Seals, are 
killed by sealers for the sake either of their valuable fur or for 
their hides and oil. The skeleton of a typical Seal (fig. 28) is 
elongate, with a small skull, no clavicles, rudimentary tail, and 
limbs of which the upper bones are very short, while the fore 
and hind feet are long, with five well -developed toes. The 
hind-legs are turned backwards, so that the two soles are 
opposed to each other when the animal swims, the two together 
E 
[Cases 
27* to 31, 
F & PX] 
