101 
the former. The organization of other 
amphibious animals, such as the beaver, 
castor, otter, &c. fits them better for 
living on the land than the water. In 
this genus the contrary takes place. The 
arms and legs of the Phocse (if we may 
employ these terms,) are wholly envelop¬ 
ed in the flesh of the animal, the hands 
and feet being alone protruded; these 
too are webbed, and are instruments 
evidently more calculated for swimming 
than moving on land. 
This unaptness of organization is 
strongly displayed in the painful motion 
of the animal, which, from the shortness 
of its legs, has to rest at every step, on 
its belly, until it prepares for a new ad¬ 
vance. Its agility, considering these de¬ 
fects, is indeed astonishing, and is cer¬ 
tainly the effect of great exertion. 
The eloquent and ingenious BufFon 
was of opinion, that the Phocse approach¬ 
ed to fish by a still more decisive cri- 
