but it is by no means so useful, nor so durable as in its green or raw state. Zorgdrager states that, when procured in Canada, it was cut into slices, and exported to America for carriage traces, and into England for glue. We believe it is admirably adapted for harness, and the manufacture of carriages.

We have already had occasion to state that the oil of the Morse is more valued than that of the Whale. The quantity varies at different times of the year, according to the condition of the animals. Scoresby states that, at some seasons, the produce is said to be considerable, but that he never met with any which afforded above twenty or thirty gallons of oil. Zorgdrager gives the average quantity at half a

ton.

The teeth are usually more valuable than the oil. We have already stated their usual dimensions. The celebrated Gmelin, in his account of his journey in Siberia, mentions, that at Anadeirkai the teeth were found in such numbers on the shore, that there was no occasion for the inhabitants to slay the animals on their account. The relative value of the ivory from them and from the Elephant is variously stated by authors. Thus, whilst Lord Shuldham asserts that the ivory of the Sea-Horse is an inferior sort, which soon turns yellow, Anderson, and after him Schreber, maintain that, in hardness and permanent whiteness, it surpasses that of the Elephant. Zorgdrager also states that it is more precious, especially the internal part, and Denis, that no ivory

can be fairer. This latter, we believe, is the idea now entertained by the most competent judges. The Greenlanders, and other northern nations, are in the habit of converting it into their most important hunting weapons, and into tools and instruments for domestic uses. Among the Chinese it is employed for those curious uses to which they so wonderfully turn ivory; and, in most civilized nations, it is extensively used for the invaluable purpose of giving teeth to the toothless.

THE SEAL GROUP, OR PHOCIDE.

"L'histoire des phoques est même aujourd'hui extrêmement embrouillée; un grand nombre d'espèces sont encore à connoitre."-LESSON.

I. THE PROPER SEALS, OR PHOCÆ.

IN proceeding to the Seal group, or Phocidæ, as it has been called the Phocaceae of French writers— we shall consider first the Earless Seals, or Proper Phoca, the Inauriculata of Peron. The time is not very distant, as explained on p. 98, when the whole of the Phoca were grouped as one genus; but latterly, M. F. Cuvier and the French Naturalists have divided them into seven distinct genera, and Professor Nilsson, by establishing another, has made the number eight. Of these, six belong to the Proper Phoca, and two to the Eared Seals, or Otaries. From the total want of classification which so long prevailed, it naturally happened that, in whatever country a Seal was seen, it was regarded as the Common Seal, the Vitulina of Naturalists;

and hence it is next to impossible to ascertain the species to which all the earlier accounts refer; and the more so as some additional difficulties arise as connected with the colour. This is a subject which would require an extent of discussion into which we cannot enter. The appearance, when dry and out of the water, is often different from what it is when wet and in it. Again, it seems established that some species differ much each successive year, till full age is attained; and that in some, too, the male is very differently marked from the female; circumstances these, which have a tendency to induce the splitting of one species into many. Further, it has been stated, "that in many specimens of the same species, of both sexes and all ages, no two are precisely similar;" in short, that some differ in colour as much as our Pointers or Greyhounds; and this remark has been freely applied to many genera. We would here, however observe, that this conclusion should be drawn with caution, and it ought not, on the contrary, to be forgotten, that there is great uniformity in the colours of many kinds, both whilst young, and in the adult state. Frequent evidence will subsequently be afforded of this truth; and without dwelling longer upon the subject, we will now refer only to the Vitulina of the Scottish shores, to the Rough or Bristled, and finally to the Fur Seal. The ascertaining of this uniformity where it really exists, would contribute much to the ready determination of species.

When Baron Cuvier, fifteen years ago, examined

the Paris Museum in relation to this group, he found that there was distinct evidence of three species or varieties having been confounded as the Common Seal; but neither he nor any other of the French Naturalists succeeded, at that time, in detecting very clear or satisfactory specific characters.

The peculiar characters of the Proper Phocæ are, that their feet are enveloped in the integuments, so becoming swimming paws; the anterior are very short, and the posterior much in the same line with the body; they have no external ears; the incisors vary from six to four in the upper jaw, and from four to two in the lower; they are simply cutting; the molars have generally many small lobes or cutting points; the toes of the feet are webbed, and terminated by sharp claws.

GENUS CALOCEPHALUS, OR FINE SHAPED
HEADED SEALS.

The name of this genus was selected on account of the great size of the cranium, and the shortness of the snout. The brain is scarcely inferior in size to that of the best organized monkeys, and hence they are easily tamed. Their dental formulary is 3.1.5-34.

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The grinders are formed of a large point in the middle, with a smaller one anteriorly, and two posteriorly; the nostrils do not extend beyond the mouth; the mammæ of the female are four ; it has sometimes been stated two.