The Common Seal. 
THE COMMON SEAL. (Phoca vi'ulina.) 
The amphibious flesh-eating animals, though nearly 
allied to the otter in their habits, are very different in 
the construction of their bodies. Their feet are so short 
and so enveloped in skin, that they are of scarcely any use 
in assisting the animal on dry land ; so that the deal's 
progress on solid ground is only effected by a sort of half 
tumbling, jumping, and shuffling motion, excessively 
ridiculous to a looker on. The feet, however, which are 
furnished with strong claws, are of use in enabling the 
animal to climb out of the water over a rocky shore. 
For swimming, the Seal is admirably adapted ; its long 
flexible body is shaped like that of a fish, tapering to the 
tail ; and it is furnished with strong webs between the 
toes, so as to make the fore feet act as oars, and the hind 
feet, which the animal generally drags behind it like a 
tail, to serve as a rudder. The Common Seal lives 
generally in the water, and feeds entirely on fish ; only 
coming to shore occasionally to bask on the sands, and to 
lie there to suckle its young. The usual length of a 
Seal is four or five feet. The head is laige and round ; 
the neck small and short ; and on each side of the mouth 
