saddle n OED ~ sb 7 a (Nfld: 1784-) for sense 1.
1 Saddle-shaped marking on the back of a harp seal.
[1766] 1971 BANKS 145 The Heart or Possibly Harp Seal is markd over the Shoulders with a brown figure rudely resembling a harp which they Call the Saddle. 1793 PENNANT ii, 280 Our Fishers call this the Harp, or Heart Seal, and style the marks on the sides the saddle. 1873 CARROLL 15 The harp seals have the black stripes, which is called the 'saddle.'
2 Mark on the flesh side of the skin of a 'hermit beaver.'
[1783] 1792 CARTWRIGHT iii, 22 It often-times happens, that a single beaver lies retired. and it is then stiled by furriers, a hermit: they say, it is turned out from the family, because it is lazy and will not work, and what is very singular (for be the cause what it will, the fact is certain) all hermit beavers have a black mark on the inside of the skin upon their backs, called a saddle, which distinguishes them.
3 Comb saddle-dog: mature male harp seal; DOG1, SADDLEBACK.
1924 ENGLAND 102 The fourth-year harps are 'black backs,' 'saddle backs,' or 'saddlers'—de saddle dogs an' de rale ole bitches, de rale ole 'ers.' From that time onward, they are all 'old harps.'
