Natural History: Mammalia/Phocadæ
Family VI. Phocadæ.
(Seals.)
We now arrive at a group of carnivorous quadrupeds, whose structure is modified for a sphere of action and an economy almost exclusively aquatic. The anterior limbs, which in the Bats are enormously lengthened, are in the Seals reduced to extreme shortness, the bones being thick and compact. In both cases, however, the fingers are embraced in the integuments, and for a similar object, the production of a broad fanning surface, in the one instance to strike the air, in the other the water. The toes of the hind feet, which in these animals are directed backward, are connected by very wide membranes, so that they can be greatly dilated, and form very powerful oars. The paws are too short to be very effective instruments of terrestrial progression, but they assist the animal in climbing out of the water upon the rocks and masses of floating ice, on which it delights to bask in the sun. A singular sort of shuffling, jumping motion, of considerable quickness, is attained, however, on the land, by the vertical curving of the spine, assisted by the muscles of the trunk. The lengthened form of the body, which, owing to the narrowness of the pelvis, tapers almost to a point; the broad web-bed feet; the spongy lightness of the bones; and the short, close fur lying flat upon the skin, admirably adapt this Family for their ocean-life. They shoot through the water with almost the rapidity of fishes.
The physiognomy of the Seals is generally pleasing; the head is round, the muzzle short and fleshy; the eyes are large and dark, with a mild expression. The external ears are either very small, or altogether wanting; their orifices as well as those of the nostrils can be closed by muscular effort at the will of the animal. The Seals are scattered over the margins of all seas; but are most numerous in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, where they constitute an object of commercial pursuit, from the value of their fur and their abundant surface-fat, which is melted into oil.
Genus Phoca. (Linn.)
The teeth of the common Seals are thus arranged; inc. 64; can. 11—1; mol. 5—55—5:=34. They are evidently formed, observes Mr. Bell, “for the purpose of seizing, holding, and partially dividing the
scaly and slippery fish upon which the Seal feeds; the canines are strong, but acute; the molars beset with points of various size and form, but all adapted to their piscivorous habits; and the simple stomach is in perfect harmony with such a structure.”[1] The form of the skull is flattened on the top, swelling at the sides; it has only slight roughnesses in the place of occipital crests. There are no visible ears."The paws of these animals, though expressly made for swimming, are not, it is evident, so truly paddle-like as those of the Whale or Porpoise: the anterior pair are plainly divided into strong toes, armed with nails and webbed: the posterior
FOOT OF THE SEAL. (a.) SKELETON OF THE SAME.
limbs are feeble; but the toes are still distinguishable, and serve as supports to a large extent of web, constituting an apparatus admirably adapted for propelling the animal through the water, and calling to mind the feet of the Diver (Colymbus) or Great Auk, (Alca impennis,) both as to appearance and position."[2]
Several species of this genus inhabit the seas of our coasts, and are particularly abundant on the rocky shores of Scotland, and the west of Ireland. The most common is the variegated species, known vulgarly as the Sea-calf, (Phoca vitulina, Linn.) a name given to it from a fancied resemblance of its voice to the bleating of that animal.
The common Seal is four or five feet long; of a yellowish-grey hue, with dark spots on the back and sides. The body is plump and full, beautifully tapering; the head round, with a very short neck; from the thick upper lip project, on each side, many strong and stout bristles or whiskers, which probably serve as very susceptible organs of touch, as each bristle is supplied by a considerable nerve.
The intelligence and docility of the Seal are very great. M. Fred. Cuvier has given an account of one which performed many pleasing tricks at the command of its master, to whom it was much
SEAL.
attached. It manifests much curiosity, and appears to delight in musical sounds. Laing, in his account of a voyage to Spitzbergen, states that when the violin was played, a numerous audience of Seals would generally collect around the vessel, following her course for miles. Fishes constitute the prey of the Seal; in the pursuit of which it displays much cunning and power of swimming. In the Scottish estuaries it destroys great quantities of salmon. It is itself the object of pursuit, for the sake of its skin and blubber. "The fishing commences in autumn, and is practised by means of nets, stretched across narrow sounds where the Seals are in the habit of swimming. In these nets they are entangled, but it is only the young that can be thus captured; the old ones are shot, or their recesses and caves are entered at night by boatmen with torches and bludgeons, upon which the animals, alarmed by the glare and the shouts of the men, rush tumultuously forward to sea, and as they push along in confusion and terror, they are knocked on the heads with clubs, the men being duly stationed for that purpose."[3] The senses of this animal seem to be very acute, and hence much caution is requisite to secure them. Mr. Hogg, in a communication to Mr. Bell, observes, "I have often been out in a boat in the Tees estuary, endeavouring to shoot a Seal, but never could succeed; for the Seal, on seeing the flash occasioned by the flint and steel of the gun-lock, instantly dived.";[4] It is destroyed by a comparatively slight blow on the forehead or muzzle.