SEALS® 
SEALS. 
The seals seem to bear a considerable alliance to 
the rnanati ; most of them having the same kind of 
elongated body, and fin-like feet. They also in- 
habit the waters, where they swim with great ease. 
In summer they live much on the shores, but in 
winter they confine themselves almost entirely to the 
sea. They are a dirty, and an inquisitive race of 
animals ; and though courageous and quarrelsome 
among themselves, are capable of being rendered 
tame. They are polygamous, one male having 
many females. Their flesh is said to be juicy and 
delicate eating ; and their fat and hides arc of 
considerable use. They walk very aukwardly ; 
from the fore paws being set considerably back- 
wards, and the hind ones being united. Their 
food consists of fish and other marine productions. 
In the upper jaw they have six parallel and sharp- 
pointed fore teeth, the exterior of which are the 
largest ; and in the lower jaw four, that are also 
parallel, distinct, and equal. There is one canine- 
tooth in each jaw ; and five grinders above, 
and six below, all of which have three knobs, or 
points. 
Common seal, or sea-calf. 
These seals are found on most of the rocky 
shores of Great Britain and Ireland, especially on 
the northern coasts. They inhabit all the European 
seas, even to the farthest north ; are found consi- 
derably within the arctic circle, in the seas both 
of Europe and Asia, and even continue to those of 
Kamtschatka. They prey on fish, and are both 
