. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. i «r ! i N ! ftf, 504. THE SEA LEOPAKD. The true Seals are found only in the sea, and at the mouths of various large rivers, and are wonderfully abundant in the polar regions. None of them are known to inhabit the tropical parts of the earth. Several species have been known to occur upon our own shores, more especially on the more northern coasts, and the common Seal, Phoca vitulina, is found in great numbers fij'ound the northern British shores. The teeth of the Seals are very remarkable,
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. i «r ! i N ! ftf, 504. THE SEA LEOPAKD. The true Seals are found only in the sea, and at the mouths of various large rivers, and are wonderfully abundant in the polar regions. None of them are known to inhabit the tropical parts of the earth. Several species have been known to occur upon our own shores, more especially on the more northern coasts, and the common Seal, Phoca vitulina, is found in great numbers fij'ound the northern British shores. The teeth of the Seals are very remarkable, and admirably adapted for seizing and retaining the slippery prey. The cannie teeth are long, sharp and powerful, and the molar teeth are covered \\\i\\ long and sharp points of various sizes, so that when once caught in the gripe of these formidable weapons, there is but scant hope of escape for the fish. The Seals are not very prolific animals; the number of their young family being seldom more than two, and often restricted to a single offspring. As the young Seals would be unable, during the earlier portion of their existence, to battle with the sea waves, and to cling firmly to their parent while she afforded them their needful nourish- ment, the mother Seal retires to the shores when she is called upon to take upon herself the pleasing cares of maternity, and cherishes her young for a season on land, before she ventures to commit them to the waves. Owing to the excessive shyness of disposition which characterize the Seals, and the wary caution with which they retire from the sight of mankind, theii domestic habits are very little known. Indeed, were it not that many specimens of the common Seal had been captured and tamed, we should have but little information on the manners or the habits of those curious animals. There are many species of Seals, which liave been separated into various genera by different authors upon different grounds. Some, for example, found the gen
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmammals, booksubjectnaturalhistory
