which looks as if it were entirely rubbed over with oil; and thus far the quadruped prevails over the aquatic. But it is in the feet that this animal differs widely from all the rest of the quadruped kind; for they are so stuck on the body, and so covered with membrane, that they seem to resemble fins rather than feet, and might be pronounced such, did not the claws with which they are pointed shew their proper analogy.

These animals differ considerably in size, being found from four to nine feet long; they also vary in their colours; some being black, others white, some spotted, and many yellow. It would therefore be almost endless to enumerate their varieties.-Their chief food consists of fish, and they are remarkably expert in pursuing and catching it. In those places where herrings are seen in shoals, the seals destroy them by thousands; and when these retire, they are obliged to hunt after fish that are stronger, and more capable of evading pursuit.-They are taken for the sake of their skins, and the oil their fat yields.

THE males of this species are, in general, about eight feet long, but the females are much smaller. Their bodies are very thick, and the colour of the hair is commonly black, but that of the old ones is tipped with grey, and many of the females are ash-coloured. The nose projects like that of a pug-dog, and the eyes are large and prominent. Their voice varies on different occasions; thus, when diverting themselves on their native rocks, they low like a

cow; when engaged in battle, they utter a hideous growl; after a defeat, they mew like a cat; and the note of triumph after a victory, somewhat resembles the chirping of a cricket.-These animals are chiefly found on the islands in the vicinity of Kamtschatka, from June to September: after which they remove, some to the Adriatic, and some to the American shore.

THE morse, or walrus, is an animal of the seal kind, but differing from the rest in a very particular formation of the teeth, having two large tusks growing from the upper jaw, shaped like those of an elephant, but directed downwards: as the rest, it nearly resembles the seal, except that it is much larger, being from twelve to sixteen feet long. It has also the same habitudes, advantages, and imperfections; and frequents the same places that seals are known to reside in.-The females defend their offspring at the risk of their lives, whether in the water or upon the ice; nor will the young ones quit their dam, even though she be dead; so that if one be killed, the other is certain prey.

THIS variety is larger than the former; being from eleven to eighteen feet long, and so extremely fat, that when the skin is taken off, the blubber lies a foot thick all round the body. It is, in general, of a redish brown colour,

and is distinguished by a large mane, which covers the head and neck of the male, and from which it has received the name of the sea-lion.-These animals reside in families distinct from the common seal; each male having from two to four females, which he treats with great affection. They do not, as has been supposed, graze on shore; but their food consists entirely of fish, penguins, and marine animals. During the breeding season they are said to fast for a long time, and to become extremely emaciated; but at intervals they swallow large stones, for the purpose of keeping the stomach distended.-The flesh of the young is said to be excellent food, and their fat is as delicious as marrow.

The hippopotamus is an animal as large, and not less formidable than the rhinoceros. Its form is very uncouth, the body being large, round, and clumsy; the head very bulky; the mouth prodigiously wide and disproportionable; the eyes and ears small; the legs remarkably thick; and the tail short, flat, and tapering to a point. The body is covered over with a few scattered hairs, of a whitish colour, and the hide is impenetrable to the blow of a sabre.

This animal, however, seems no way disposed to exert its prodigious strength against an equal enemy; but chiefly resides at the bottom of the great rivers or lakes of Africa: where it leads an indolent kind of life, and

appears seldom disposed for action, except when excited by the cravings of hunger. Upon these occasions three or four of them are often seen at the bottom of a river, near some cataract, forming a kind of a line, and seizing upon such fish as are forced down by the violence of the stream. In that element they pursue their prey with equal perseverence and celerity; as they swim with great force, and remain at the bottom for thirty or forty minutes, without rising to take breath.

As, however, it frequently happens that this animal's fishy food is not supplied in sufficient quantity, it is then compelled to come upon land; where it is an awkward and unweildy stranger, and, as it seldom forsakes the margin of the river, it sinks at every step it takes. Sometimes, indeed, it is forced by famine into the higher grounds; where it commits dreadful havock among the plantations, while the helpless natives see their possessions destroyed without daring to resist the invader; for if they happen to wound, or irritate it too closely, it overturns whatever it meets, and puts forth all its strength, which it seemed not to have discovered before that dangerous occasion. It possesses the same disposition in its favourite element, that it is found to have upon land; for although it is never known to attack the mariners in their boats, as they go up or down the stream; yet if they inadvertently strike against it, or otherwise disturb its repose, there is much danger of its sending them at once to the bottom.-The female brings forth her young upon land, and it is supposed that she seldom produces more than one at a time.

THE colour of this animal is brown, and it is somewhat of the shape of an overgrown weasel, being long, slender, and soft-skinned. Its usual length is about two feet from

the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail; the head and nose are broad and flat; the mouth bears some similitude to that of a fish; the neck is short, and equal in thickness to the head; the body is long; the tail broad at the insertion, but tapering off to a point; the eyes are very small, and placed nearer the nose than usual in quadrupeds. The legs are very short, but remarkably strong, broad, and muscular; and each foot is furnished with five toes, connected by strong broad webs, like those of the water-fowl.

These voracious animals are generally found at the sides of lakes and rivers, but particularly the former, as they are seldom fond of fishing in a running stream. In lakes they destroy much more than they devour, and will some. times spoil a pond in the space of a few nights. The damage these creatures do, however, by destroying fish, is not so great as their tearing in pieces the fishermens' nets, which they infallibly do, whenever they happen to get entangled in them. The female goes with young about nine weeks, and generally produces three or four at a time. These are always found at the edge of the water; and, if under the protection of the dam, she teaches them on the approach of an enemy, to plunge like herself, into the deep, and escape among the weeds or rushes that fringe the stream. It is, therefore, only in the absence of the dam, that the young can be taken; and in some places there are dogs purposely trained for discovering their retreats.

THE beaver is the only quadruped that has a flat broad tail, covered with scales, which serves as a rudder to direct its motions in the water; and that has membranes between the toes on the hind feet only, and none on the