. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. to® I the whiskers somewhat less profuse. Their brain is more spherical. In several minor particulars the skull differs from that of the Otaries, and especially in the dentition is there a marked difference. Thi-ee types prevail, of which the Common Seal, the Sea Leopards, and the Crested, or Hooded Seals, are examples. In the tii-st, the dental formula is^ Incisoi-s, ~ ; canines, t^J; premolars, ^^; molai-s, ?^I = 34. The differences in number and shape the two others we shall notice in the context. With respect to the skeleton generally,
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. to® I the whiskers somewhat less profuse. Their brain is more spherical. In several minor particulars the skull differs from that of the Otaries, and especially in the dentition is there a marked difference. Thi-ee types prevail, of which the Common Seal, the Sea Leopards, and the Crested, or Hooded Seals, are examples. In the tii-st, the dental formula is^ Incisoi-s, ~ ; canines, t^J; premolars, ^^; molai-s, ?^I = 34. The differences in number and shape the two others we shall notice in the context. With respect to the skeleton generally, bone for bone, the distinctions rather lie in their relative and dimensions than in special diffei'ence of construction. The hip-bones, the hind leg- imik _m bones, and those of the fore feet, appreciably differ and correspond to the peculiarities of pro- gression, (fee, in the two groups. On land, this" family {Phocidm) lies on the beUy, throws the hind feet back, and by a series of short jerking movements, so-called saltatory efforts, or a curious kind of dragging motion, giovels abdominally on the ground, the short fore-paws either pressed against the body, or, on rocky rougher gi'ound, otherwise slightly aiding action. This movement of the Common Seal doubtless most people have witnessed, and it is quite unique not only amongst the Carnivora, but the whole of the Mammalia. In .swimming, the Seals seldom use their fore feet, while the Otaries use them as power- ful sweeps. On the other hand, in the Seals the hind limbs have a kind of scullmg movement, com- parable to a fish's tail, the sinuous strokes bearing some analogy to those of a screw-propeller. Less swift than the Otaries, they nevertheless move with extraordinary rapidity and power in the water. In the last family, the Eared Seals, it was pointed out that they had a peculiar geographical distribution, wherein certain forms had alone a northern habitat, and similarly others pertained to a southern. Almo
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