110 Supplemental History

The fin of a certain whale.

The second animal is similar to an ox and is known as the walrus; indeed, in the arrangement of its front feet, it resembles a seal or sea-calf. At first glance, this beast would look like a cat if it were equipped with hind legs. It eventually ends in a finned, triangular tail with serrated edges at the tips. Above its mouth, it bears certain appendages like little horns, and its feet appear to end in five claws.

The third animal is similar to a land pig, and for this reason, we believe it to be of a dual nature. It possesses four feet which it uses for swimming in the sea—serving the purpose of fins—and for walking on land. In a similar way, the sea-swallow uses its wings for swimming, yet employs those same wings for flight when it rises above the waves. Furthermore, this animal has two sharp ears, a toothless pig-like snout, and a fin stretching from the top of its head to the end of its tail that mimics the bristles of a pig. While the rest of its body appears hairless, its tail is broad and forked, as can be seen in the illustrations.

We have also seen fit to include here the fin of a certain whale, as we found it depicted in our museum.