Volume 23, Plate VII* / Mammalia (Mammals)

Ocean Seal

Phoca Oceanica

The Ocean Seal closely resembles the Common Seal but is larger, the head obscure chestnut inclining to black, the body dull white, with a half-moon marking across the shoulders that forks down both sides and nearly meets behind. The young pass from ashy to spotted coats, females retaining these while males alter further with age; loving colder seas, it frequents the White Sea ice, bears one pup about April, and yields useful skin and fat.