Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/369

LEFT SEAL 313 SEA LION a dog, with the same look of intelligence and mild and expressive physiognomy. It has large whiskers, oblong nostrils, and great black sparkling eyes. It has no external ears, but a valve exists in the orifices, which can be closed at will, so as to keep out the water; the nostrils have a similar valve; and the clothing of the body consists of stiff glossy hairs, very closely set against the skin. The body is elongated and conical, gradually tapering from the shoulders to the tail. The spine is provided with strong muscles, which bend it with considerable force; and this movement is of great assistance to the propulsion of the body. Though furnished with the same number of bones as in quadrupeds, they are united to the body in such a singular manner, and so covered with a membrane, that they would rather resemble fins than feet, did not the sharp strong claws with which they are pointed show their proper anal- ogy. The limbs, in fact, are converted into oars and paddles. The anterior pair have the arm and forearm so short, that little more than the paw advances from the body. The hinder limbs are directed backward, so as almost to seem like a continuation of the body; the thigh and leg are very short, and the foot is formed on the same plan as the forepaw, the toes being in contact, however, and the web folded, when it is not in use as a paddle, but being spread out when the animal is swimming. When on land, or on masses of ice, the movements of the seal are particularly awkward, its body being forced onward by the action of the forelimbs only, and the wriggling mo- tion of the abdominal muscles. The seals live in herds, more or less numerous, along the shores of the sea ; and on unin- habited coasts they bring forth and suckle their young, and exhibit the most tendar solicitude for their welfare. They are easily tamed, become strongly at- tached to their keepers, recognize them at a distance, and seem to be endowed with a very considerable share of intelli- gence. The form of their teeth and jaws shows them to be carnivorous; and their food consists of fish, crabs, and sea birds, which they are enabled to surprise while swimming. Seals swim with great rapid- ity and ease. They can remain under water for a considerable time. These animals produce two or three young at a time; and they suckle them for six or seven weeks, generally in the cavernous recesses of rocks, after which they take to the sea. The young are re- markably docile; they recognize and are obedient to the voice of their dams amid the numerous clamors of the flock, and mutually assist each other when in dan- ger or distress. They continue to live in society, hunt and herd together, and have a variety of cries by which they encour- age or pursue, express apprehension or success. When incited by natural desire, however, their social spirit seems to for- sake them; they then fight most desper- ately; and the victorious male always keeps a watchful eye over those females whom his prowess has secured. The common seal, Phoca vitulina, abundant in the cool and frigid regions, is three to five feet long, and is much hunted for its skins, and for its oil and flesh. The skins though their covering is hair, not fur, are much valued. The harp seal (P. groenlandica) is abundant on the Arctic coasts of Europe and Amer- ica, and is killed in great numbers for its oil and skins. There are several other species in the North Atlantic, while some species extend to the tropics. There is a second family of the Pinnipedia, known as the Otariidas, or sea lions and sea bears, the former having only long coarse hair, while the latter have in addition a short, soft, and delicate fur, which, under the name of seal skin, is highly valued in commerce. The Sea Lion (q. v.) is found on both coasts of the Pacific from California and Japan N., and there is an Antarctic species. The celebrated N. species Callorhinus ursinus, which yields the valuable sealskin of commerce, is con- fined to the north Pacific, breeding only on two of the Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, and two of the Commander Islands, further W. In 1919 there were 524,264 fur seals; 25,381 were taken. See Fur: Bering Sea: Sea Elephant. SEALING WAX, a composition for sealing or securely fastening letters or packets. Sealing wax made of resin, and colored with vermilion, lamp-black, white lead, or orpiment, was made in the 16th century. SEA LION, a popular name for the genus Otaria; specifically, 0. (Eume- sea lion topias, Gray) stelleri, the hair seal of the Pribiloffs, or Steller's sea lion. The male attains a length of 11 or 12 feet, and a