Ixviii Pinnipedia. MAMMALIA. — —Pinnipedia. 
this genus tliere is a striking resemblance of the 
teeth to those of a Shark ; it lias, tlierefore, been 
suggested that tliis may be nothing more than a 
worn specimen of the latter, such being found in the 
locality from whence the Wetherill specimen came. 
'I’he next more ancient deposit in which Seals have 
been found is tlie Miocene. Six or eight species 
liave been found in this and Pliocene dejiosits. Dr. 
Mantell met with considerable numbers of the bones 
and teeth of two species of Seals in the superficial 
deposits of birds’ bones, which lie in immense beds 
on the northern and middle islands of the New Zea- 
land group. 'I’hese are supposed to be those of 
Stenorhynchus leptonyx and Phoca leonina — species 
now living on those islands. Similar deposits, made 
up of the remains of the common Seal (Phoca vitu- 
lina) are seen on the coast of Great Britain. In the 
upper Miocene of France extinct fossil forms occur, 
resembling the Otaria of the Antarctic regions ; and 
in the Pliocene of ISIontpelier, of the same, is an 
extinct Seal, named Pristophoca occitana. Eeniains 
of I’innipeds are also found in Algeria, embedded in 
Post Tertiary deposits. 
Family— PHOOIDE5. 
Phoca is from the Greek — a Sea-calf, or Seal — used 
as such by Pliny, and often by Greek writers in song 
and story. 'I’he term is here used to designate an 
important group of Seals, which have the muffle 
hairy on the edge and between the nostrils. The 
ears have only a small aperture and no conch. 'J’he 
arms and legs are very short, and the wrist equally 
so. The toes are sub-equal, arched and exserted. 
The hind-feet are large and fan-shaped ; the inner 
and outer toes large and long, the three middle ones 
shorter. The palms and soles are hairy. 'I’lie claws 
are distinct and sharp. The cranium has no post- 
orbital process, or is obsolescent. The alisphenoid 
canal is absent. The mastoid processes are pro- 
duced largely, seeming to form a portion of the audi- 
tory bullm. The scajmla is extended upwards and 
backwards towards the posterior superior angle. 
There is no scrotum, the testicles being enclosed in 
the body. 
Tribe— PIIO GINA. 
Dr. J. E. Gray, whose system we follow here [Su2)- 
flement to the Catalogue of the British Museum, 
Seals and Whales, IQ'il), arranges the Seals in several 
tribes, the present including individuals with skull 
tapering in front, nose-hole moderate in size, the 
molars, excepting the first, with two roots. This 
tribe is confined to the North-Atlantic and Arctic 
seas. 
Callocei'iialus. 
'I'his genus includes those having a rather narrow 
muzzle, waved whiskers, fingers gradually shortened, 
palate angularly notched behind, sub-cylindrical hairs, 
thin under-fur, and hairy hind-toes between the webs. 
THE COMMON SEAL [Callocejdiahis vitulinus )- — 
Plate 12, fig. 40 — of our northern and eastern shores. 
is the common Seal of England, and ranges over the 
whole northern shores of Europe. It is the Phoca 
vitulina of Linn., as well as P. communis ; P. cannia 
of Pallas; and P. variegata, linnei and littorea of 
others. English sailors call it Sea-dog, Sea-calf, Sea- 
cat. Scotch fishermen name it Selkie, Selach and 
Tang-fish. In West Scotland it is Hawn. 'J’he 
Swedes term it S])raklig Skill. In other parts of 
Scandinavia it is Wilkare Skill, Kubbsael and the 
Spotted Seal (den Spattede Sill). In Norse it is 
Stenkobbe; Finnish, Hylje ; German, See-hund (Sea- 
hound); French, Yeau marin and Phoque. 'The Danes 
in Greenland name it Spragled Sael-hund. 'I’he Es- 
kimos in some parts call it 'I’upelo, on being shown 
a picture of it. 
South ot Hudson’s Bay this species is not numer- 
ous on our shores, only single individuals being seen 
occasionally, either swimming near the entrance of 
some harbor or mouth of river, or, as at Nahant, liv- 
ing in very small colonies on the rocks some dis- 
tance off shore. We knew of such a colony that 
occupied the ledge known as Lobster Eocks, at the 
entrance of Lynn Harbor. AVhen the water was 
smooth, the round heads of these creatures could be 
discerned shining with reflected light. 'I’he Seal 
has a large brain, and is, consequently, very intelli- 
gent ; its face beams with good-nature and intelli- 
gence ; its eye is very attractive and gentle in 
expression. Several are kept in the New York 
Aquarium, where they amuse the visitors by numer- 
ous manipulations, which they have been taught to 
perform. They are very easily tamed, and seem 
always to have a strong attachment for their master. 
'J’he voice of the Seal is a bark, much like that of a 
Dog. When irritated, it makes a noise like the 
snarling of an angry Cat, showing its teeth. Some 
species are said to utter the syllable yia repeatedly. 
'This species jirobably affords the Greenlander and 
Eskimos their most useful article of domestic com- 
fort and also of trade. 'I’he Seal skin is ajiplied to 
innumerable uses, and the flesh is all-important as an 
article of diet. 'I’he native huts are lighted by the 
oil ; the blood, mixed with other substances, forms 
an edible soup ; and the sinews are put to endless 
uses in the outfit of the fisherman and hunter. Even 
the membranes are dried and stretched over the 
apertures of the huts, to serve as windows in lieu of 
glass, being sufficiently translucent to admit all light 
for practical purposes. Seal hunting on a great scale 
is seen on the coast of North America; sixty ships 
of one hundred to one hundred and fifty or two hun- 
dred tons each are engaged in the business. 'I’lie oil is 
the most valuable portion. Each Seal supplies aliout 
a half a barrel of oil. 
In size this species is about four feet in length, 
some reaching nearly five feet. De Kay, who calls it 
Phoca concolor, gives, as its characteristics, the color 
as uniform dark slaty-gray; the young entirely light 
yellow. It breeds in Autumn, bringing forth common- 
ly two at birth. A certain reef in New York Harbor 
— Eobin’s Eeef — is named from the fact that numbers 
of Seals formerly resorted there ; the term robin or 
rohyn being the name in Dutch for Seal. Even now 
