. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. AW. , ^ II ilfel I ('-I '::^......v [t! fl Ih ^i M i!. « l,\^»i.—(lllirut Jiihutii. slw'p tliey opon tlioir Himillis in a tlircatcniuij; iiiaiincr, liut dn iKit s"j1ii to think of nsiiii;! tlu'ir teeth, and if they find tliat tlicir disturl)Ci's do not run a\vay, tliey take that ollice upon tliemselves, and move off deliberately for the water. As they proceed their huge bodies trendile like masses of jelly, in consequence of the fat with which they are so heavily laden. So plentif
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. AW. , ^ II ilfel I ('-I '::^......v [t! fl Ih ^i M i!. « l,\^»i.—(lllirut Jiihutii. slw'p tliey opon tlioir Himillis in a tlircatcniuij; iiiaiincr, liut dn iKit s"j1ii to think of nsiiii;! tlu'ir teeth, and if they find tliat tlicir disturl)Ci's do not run a\vay, tliey take that ollice upon tliemselves, and move off deliberately for the water. As they proceed their huge bodies trendile like masses of jelly, in consequence of the fat with which they are so heavily laden. So plentiful is this fat, tiiat a single adult male will furnish about seventy gallons of clear and scentless oil. The extracu'dinary development of the nose, whicli gives so weird-like a character to tlie aspect of tlie Elephant Seal, is only found in tlie a(hUt males, and even in tliem is imt very perceptible unless the animal is alarmed or excited. While the creature is undis- turbed, the nose only looks ]ieculiarly large aiul heavy, as may be seen in the figures tliiit occupy the background of the illustrati(jn on y)age 517. As soon, however, as the animul becomes excited, it protrudes this iimboscis-like nose, blows tlirough it with great violence, and assumes a very forniidaljle appearance. The female is entirely destitute of this structure, and exce])t for its enormous dimensions, miglit be mistaken for an ordinary Seal, In tlie male it docs not make its a]i]M'araiice until the lliinl year. The Eh'pliant Seal is easily tanu'd wlieu taken young, and disjilays great affection towards a kind master. One of animals tamed by an English seaman, and would permit its master to mount upon its back, or to put his hand into its mouth without doing liini any injury. The teeth of this animal are very curious in their formation, espeeially the molar teeth, which are small, and pointed with a kind of mushroom-like apex. The canines are very large. The whisker hairs are very coa
Size: 2056px × 1216px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmammals, booksubjectnaturalhistory
