Pinnipedia. MAMMALIA. Pinnipedia. Ixix 
they are occasionally seen, particularly at Execution 
Rocks, in Long Island Sound. Some are seen in 
Passaic River, N. J., every year, and are not un- 
Tliis genus is represented by individuals having the 
frequently taken in nets. Mention is made by Dr. 
palate truncated behind; fingers gradually shorter; 
De Kay of one being’ exhibited in New York, in 
muzzle rather produced ; hair dry, flat, close-pressed. 
1824, which was taken in a seine in the Chesapeake 
without any under fur ; web between the hind-toes. 
Bay, near Elkton, Maryland. 
baldish. The lower jaw is dilated and inflexed be- 
An interesting circumstance is that a Seal, closely 
neath in front, so as to close in the front part of the 
like the present species, named P. caspica, is now 
gullet, fi'he grinders are rather distinct. They in- 
living in the Caspian Sea, and another, allied to P. 
habit the Northern Ocean. 
fcetida, in Lake Baikal. 'I’lie water of the latter is 
HARP SEAL [Pagophilus grcenlandims). — This is 
wholly fresh, and the former does not contain one 
Phoca oceanica of Lepech ; 0. oceanicus, Lesson ; P. 
fourth of the saline contents of sea-water. These 
semilunaris, Bodd ; P. dorsata, Pallas ; P. nuilleri. 
species are regarded by some authors as undoubtedly 
Lesson ; P. desmarestii and P. pilayi, of same ; P. 
identical with the forms they resemble, and the in- 
lagura of F. Guv. ; and P. albicauda of Desmarest. 
ference is strong that those lakes have at one time 
The popular names are : Saddle-back of English 
been portions of the Arctic Sea, the land now in- 
sailors ; White-coats and Bed Lampiers of Newfound- 
tervening having been upraised. 
land sealers ; Svartsiden of Danes ; Atka of Green- 
The specific name, vitulina, is derived from the 
landers. 'J'he dark markings on its sides and back 
Latin, meaning Calf-like; probably its voice suggests 
give rise to some of the names above mentioned. 
the idea, as the young utters a plaintive cry when 
The habits of this Seal are much the same as those 
deprived of its mother. 
of other species. It is regarded by the sealers as 
RINGED SEAL [Callocephalus hispidits). — This is 
rather a stupid creature, and easily captured. Its 
found in the North Sea. Fred. Cuvier gives the fol- 
food consists of crustaceans and small fishes. It has 
lowing description : “ Grinders more simj)le than 
a wide range, being found at different seasons of 
those of C. vitulina; skull more depressed; inter- 
the year in all parts of the Arctic Seas. Stragglers 
maxillaries advanced between the maxilla and the 
find their way into the temperate climate, and this 
nasal for one third of their length ; frontal and 
species is now recognized as a member of the Fauna 
palatines not united in the orbits ; palate angular 
of all the northern shores of Europe and America. 
behind.” 
To the Greenlander, these Seals prove of vast im- 
Another variety, called C. fcetidus, and also the 
portance for their hides, oil and flesh. One full- 
Ringed Seal, is described as having the back black- 
grown animal will weigh 230 pounds, the skin and 
ish, or on its side large oval, whitish, thin rings ; 
blubber being 100 pounds. 
the circle round the eyes of one color; the hairs of 
THE BANDED SEAL {Pagophilus equestr is). — This 
the beard thin and brown ; the grinders rather far 
species is recorded under the generic title Pagophilus, 
apart; fur short and crisp, recurved at tip; lower 
but with a? It is the Phoca equestris of Pallas; 
jaw dilated and indexed beneath in front. 'I’he young 
P. fasciata of Shaw ; and P. annellata of Radde. 
a greenish-black ; eye unlike adult ; beneath, paler. 
Gill arranges it in the genus Histriophoca, under the 
This is Pagomys foetidus of Muller ; P. fcetida of 
same specific name as is here adopted. The Banded 
same; P. bothnica, Gmelin; P. fascihta, Shaw; P. 
Seal is not well known ; its distribution is said to 
annellata, Nilsson ; P. discolor. Gray ; and P. fred- 
extend eastward to Amoor Land. It is seen on the 
erica of Lesson. Its popular names are Ringlad Skal, 
coast of Alaska, bordering on Behring Sea, and is 
Morunge, Hringanor, Kuma, Nerpa, of Russians; 
an occasional visitor at the Aleutian Islands. Gill 
Neitsiah of Greenlanders and Danes; Hoe-rat of 
remarks : ‘‘ The species is remarkable for color, as 
Northern English and Scotch. It is the smallest of 
well as structural peculiarities. 'I’he male is at once 
the Greenland Seals, and is considered of little con- 
recognizable by the color, and this may be said to be 
sequence commercially. The specific name, foetidus, 
a chocolate-brown, except (1) a band of whitish- 
is derived from the fact that the old males emit a most 
yellow, bent forward towards the crown around the 
disgusting odor. Homer refers to this as follows ; 
neck; (2), an oval ring of the same color on each 
side, encircling the fore-feet, and passing in front just 
“Web-footed Seals forsake the stormy swell, 
before them ; and (3) another band, also bent forward 
And sleep in herds, exhaling nauseous smell.” 
above, behind the middle of the trunk. 'I'here is con- 
'I'his species seems to be confined to high latitudes 
siderable variation in the extent of these bands, and 
in Spitzbergen Sea. In North Greenland they are 
sometimes the pubibrachial rings are more or less 
captured by the natives for food and other uses ; and 
confluent with the posterior band. 'I’he females are 
some are found in Southern Greenland, being quite 
simply whitish-yellow, or have very indistinct traces 
numerous about August. 
of the posterior band.” The Russian traders used 
In the arrangement of Gray, the Caspian Seal 
formerly to procure the skins of these Seals for orna- 
{C. caspicus) comes next; it is supposed to be a waif 
mental purposes, visiting Cape Romanzoff to get them. 
of the common C. vitulina. 
The species measures from 6 to 8 feet in length. 
Two species are enumerated after the above — the 
Another species, called Pagophilus ochotensis, is 
Norway Seal [0. dimidiatiis), and Largha Seal {G. 
mentioned by Gray as living in the North Pacific; 
largha) — the latter from the North Pacific. 
it is Phoca ochotensis of Palla.«. 
