CHAPTER VII. 
SEALS -DESCRIPTION AND PECULIARITIES — WHERE FOUND -ES- 
QUIMAUX SEAL HUNTING— THE COMMON SEAL— THE HOODED 
SEAL— THE GREAT SEAL — THE HARP SEAL— THE FOETID AND 
URSINE SEAL.— THE WALRUS. 
From very early ages, tlae family of Seals (Phoccz) has 
been considered a sort of anomaly, bearing the same relation 
to fish as the bat was supposed to bear to birds. 
Description . — Head rounded, no external ears, eyes large, 
tail very short. 
It was doubtless from imperfectly formed observations 
of these animals that the stories of mermaids, sirens, sea 
nymphs, &c., originated. In their natural history much 
remains yet to be elucidated ; and this is no matter of surprise 
when we consider the ignorance which exists concerning 
mammalia much more within our reach, than these marine 
inhabitants. Cuvier remarks “ we have not the means, 
except by deduction and analogy, of ascertaining the habits 
of these half amphibious animals, while procuring their sus- 
tenance in the sea.” We are, however, acquainted with the 
physical structure of the animal, and possess a knowledge of 
its character and habits. 
The form of the body of the seal bears a general resem- 
blance to that of a fish. A remarkable formation about them 
is their having only the extremities of their limbs visible ; the 
remaining part being closely covered by the integument of the 
body, the fore limbs to the wrist, the hind ones to the heel ; 
the toes are furnished with claws, and are united by a mem- 
brane, which serves for the purpose of a fin or paddle. The 
enclosure by this integument gives the limbs an appearance 
