THE RIBBON SEAL AND WEST INDIAN SEAL. 07 



states that the Esquimaux wholly depend upon it for then- winter food, and vou Schrenck alludes 

 to the great importance of this animal to the natives of Arnoor Laud. 



26. THE RIBBON SEAL. 



GENERAL HISTORY. The fiist account of the present species was published by Pennant, 

 under the name "Rubbou Seal," in the first quarto edition of his "IJistory of Quadrupeds," in ITS I 

 (vol. ii, p. 5'23). 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. According to Pallas, the present species, Ilinlrio/ilioca fas- 

 data (Zimni.) Gill, occurs around the Kurile Islands and in the Ochotsk Sea. Von Schrenck states 

 that Dr. Wosucssenski obtained specimens that were killed on the eastern coast of Kamtchalka, 

 and that he himself saw skins of examples killed on the southern coast of the Ochotsk Sea, where, 

 however, the species seems to be of rare occurrence. He further states that it occurs also in the 

 Gulf of Tartary, between the island of Saghalieu and the mainland, but apparently not to the 

 southward of that island, the southern point of which (in latitude 4(; N.) he believes to be the 

 southern limit of its distribution. Mr. Dall secured specimens taken at Cape Komauzoff. 1 Captain 

 Scammon states, "It is found upon the coast of Alaska, bordering on Bering Sea, and the natives 

 of Ounalaska recognize it as an occasional visitor to the Aleutian Islands. . . . The Russian 

 traders who formerly visited Cape Eomanzoff, from Saint Michael's, Norton Sound, frequently 

 brought back the skins of the male Histriophoca, which were used for covering trunks and for other 

 ornamental purposes." This writer also states that he "observed a herd of Seals upon the beaches 

 at Point Reyes, California," in April, 18513, which, " without close examination, answered to the 

 description given by Gill" of the present species. Probably, however, a "close examination" 

 would have shown them to be different, as no examples are yet known from the Califoruiau coast, 

 and the locality is far beyond the probable limits of the habitat. Its known range may, therefore, 

 be given as Bering's Sea southward on the American coast to the Aleutian Islands, and on the 

 Asiatic coast to the island of Saghalieu. 



HABITS. Almost nothing appears to have been as yet recorded respecting the habits of the 

 Ribbon Seal. Von Schrenck gives us no information of importance, and we search equally in vain 

 for information elsewhere. All of the four specimens obtained by Wosnessenski were taken on 

 the eastern coast of Kamtchatka, at the mouth of the Kauitcbatka River, about the end of March. 

 According to the report of hunters, it very rarely appears at this locality so early in the season, 

 being not often met with there before the early part of Jfciy. The natives use its skins, in common 

 with those of other species, for covering their snow-shoes. 



27. THE WEST INDIAN SEAL. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Respecting the present geographical distribution of the 

 West Indian Seal, Monachits IropicaKs Gray, I am indebted for valuable information to Mr. 11. W. 

 Kemp, who, under date of "Key West, Fla., April 29, 1878," wrote me as follows: "Some two or 

 three years ago there were two seen near Cape Florida. It was supposed that they had strayed 

 from some of the Bahama Islands, as there are some few to be found in that vicinity. I am 

 informed by reliable parties that Seals are to be found in great numbers at the Anina Islands. 

 situated between the Isle of Pines and Yucatan. One of my informants says that as he was sailing 

 about the islands fishing and wrecking, he and his party discovered a number of Seals on one of 

 them, and went on shore to kill some, merely 'for fun.' On Hearing the shore the Seals got into. 



'The. National Must-tun pnssi-sses four fine specimens, t\v<> olilaincil by Mr. Hull, in l.-i-d. and two l>y Mr. K. \V- 

 Nelson, aa well as several largo pouches, each made nf an entire skin of this species by the Eskimos. 



