The rebus, or visual pun, of Bishop Oldham's badge.

Rebus of Bishop Oldham

The rebus, or visual pun, of Bishop Oldham's badge.

The heraldic badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede. This badge has a rebus, or a visual pun representing his surname.

Badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede

The heraldic badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede. This badge has a rebus, or a visual pun representing…

The seal of the Bishop of Salisbury.

Bishop of Salisbury's Seal

The seal of the Bishop of Salisbury.

"The Star is the badge, first ordered by Charles I. The rays are of silver or diamonds. The star is worn on the left breast."—Aveling, 1891

Star of the Order of the Garter

"The Star is the badge, first ordered by Charles I. The rays are of silver or diamonds. The star is…

The heraldic seal of the Dauphin Louis in 1216.

Seal of the Dauphin Louis

The heraldic seal of the Dauphin Louis in 1216.

The heraldic seal of the archbishop of York, who worked under kings William II of England and Henry I of England.

Seal of Thurstan

The heraldic seal of the archbishop of York, who worked under kings William II of England and Henry…

The heraldic seal of Mauger le Vavassour.

Seal of Vavassour

The heraldic seal of Mauger le Vavassour.

The heraldic seal of Thomas Holland, KG, first Duke of Surrey.

Seal of Thomas Holland

The heraldic seal of Thomas Holland, KG, first Duke of Surrey.

"The Seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel, bears his achievement of arms. The supporters, crest, helm, etc., are as conspicuously drawn as the shield. The crest is large in proportion to the shield; it was usually thus represented in the compositions of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries."—Aveling, 1891

Seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel

"The Seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel, bears his achievement of arms. The supporters, crest, helm, etc.,…

The state banner of Alaska.

Alaska

The state banner of Alaska.

"Foot of the seal, which opens and closes in the act of natation, the organ being folded upon itself during the non-effective or return stroke, and expanded during the effective or forward stroke. Due advantage is taken of this arrangement by the seal when swimming, the animal rotating on its long axis, so as to present the lower portion of the body and the feet obliquely to the water during the return stroke, and the flat, or the greatest available surface of both, during the effective or forward stroke."—Pettigrew, 1874

Foot of Seal

"Foot of the seal, which opens and closes in the act of natation, the organ being folded upon itself…

"The seal, adapted principally for water. The extremities are larger than in the porpoise and manatee."—Pettigrew, 1874

The Seal

"The seal, adapted principally for water. The extremities are larger than in the porpoise and manatee."—Pettigrew,…

"The turtle, adapted for swimming and diving, the extremities being relatively larger than in the seal, sea-bear, and walrus. The anterior extremities have a thick anterior margin and a thin posterior one, and in this respect resemble wings."—Pettigrew, 1874

The Turtle

"The turtle, adapted for swimming and diving, the extremities being relatively larger than in the seal,…

Also known as Tsuga mertensiana. A species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, between Alaska and Caiifornia.

Pine Cone of Mountain Hemlock

Also known as Tsuga mertensiana. A species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, between…

Also known as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Native to the west coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to California.

Branch of Nootka Cypress

Also known as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Native to the west coast of North America, ranging from Alaska…

Also known as Salix alaxensis. The branch of an Alaska Willow tree, a species of willow.

Branch of Alaska Willow

Also known as Salix alaxensis. The branch of an Alaska Willow tree, a species of willow.

The branch of a Betula alaskana, a species of birch tree.

Branch of Betula Alaskana

The branch of a Betula alaskana, a species of birch tree.

Also known as Amelanchier alnifolia. The branch of a Saskatoon shrub, native to North America, primarily from Alaska to Western Canada.

Branch of Saskatoon

Also known as Amelanchier alnifolia. The branch of a Saskatoon shrub, native to North America, primarily…

Pictured are men plowing a sowing. This illustration is from a Babylonian seal impression from the 14th century, BCE.

Babylonian Seal Impression

Pictured are men plowing a sowing. This illustration is from a Babylonian seal impression from the 14th…

Illustrated are several forms of mimulus luteus. The common name is monkey flower. The flowers are deep yellow, commonly with dark spots within. The flowers are found from Alaska to Chile.

Mimulus Luteus

Illustrated are several forms of mimulus luteus. The common name is monkey flower. The flowers are deep…

This illustration shows a human leg (front view), and comparative diagrams showing modifications of the leg:
1. Human, 2. Ox, 3. Horse, 4. Bird, 5. Frog, 6. Crocodile, 7. Seal, 8. Dog, 9. Bear
P. Pelvis, FE. Femur, TI. Tibia, FI. Fibula, TA. Tarsus, MT. Metatarsus, PH. Phalanges, OC. Os Calcis.

Human Leg (Front View), and Comparative Diagrams showing Modifications of the Leg

This illustration shows a human leg (front view), and comparative diagrams showing modifications of…

This illustration shows the leg of a seal.
P. Pelvis, FE. Femur, TI. Tibia, FI. Fibula, TA. Tarsus, MT. Metatarsus, PH. Phalanges, OC. Os Calcis

Leg of Seal

This illustration shows the leg of a seal. P. Pelvis, FE. Femur, TI. Tibia, FI. Fibula, TA. Tarsus,…

The claws of a seal's left hind foot.

Seal

The claws of a seal's left hind foot.

"The seal <i>Macrorhinus elephantinus</i> or <i>proboscideus</i>, or <i>Morunga proboscidea</i>. It is the largest of the otaries; the snout is prolonged into a proboscis suggestive of an elephant's trunk. It is confined to the higher latitudes of the southern hemisphere...." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Elephant Seal on a Rock

"The seal Macrorhinus elephantinus or proboscideus, or Morunga proboscidea. It is the largest of the…

Illustration of the entrance of an igloo, built out of ice, partially underwater. A seal is swimming under the water, headed for the entrance.

Seal Swimming up to an Igloo

Illustration of the entrance of an igloo, built out of ice, partially underwater. A seal is swimming…

<i>Leptonychotes weddelli</i>. "A spotted seal of the southern and antarctic seas, belonging to the family <i>Phocidae</i> and either of two different genera." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>This illustration shows the seal lying on some rocks.

Leopard Seal

Leptonychotes weddelli. "A spotted seal of the southern and antarctic seas, belonging to the family…

<i>Otaria jubata</i>. One of several large eared seals, or otaries. Also called "Cook's otary" or the "Patagonian sea-lion". "It is related to the sea-bear...but is larger." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Sea Lion

Otaria jubata. One of several large eared seals, or otaries. Also called "Cook's otary" or the "Patagonian…

"A press or stamp bearing dies on its jaws, or a die and a bed, for imprinting or embossing any device upon paper or a plastic material, as lead. It is much used to form the seals of seal-locks, and may be a kind of heavy pincers. a and a1, dies; b (dotted outline), bar sliding in guide c; d (dotted outline), abutment for coiled spring e; f, lever with cam g at the bottom. The lever moved in the direction in dicated by the arrow forces a down upon a1; when it is released the spring reverses the motion." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Seal Press

"A press or stamp bearing dies on its jaws, or a die and a bed, for imprinting or embossing any device…

"A circular box used for covering and protecting a seal. Old documents were commonly sealed by means of a ribbon which passed through the parchment, and to which was affixed a large circular wax seal, not attached to the parchment itself, but hanging below its edge. The skippet used to protect such a seal was commonly turned of wood, like a shallow box, with a cover formed of a simple disk of wood held to the box by strings passed through eyelet-holes." -Whitney, 1889

Skippet - Open Box with a Seal Inside

"A circular box used for covering and protecting a seal. Old documents were commonly sealed by means…