OGMORHINUS. 129 



calf only is commonly brought forth, and the period of gestation 

 is said to range from nine to nearly twelve months. Seals are 

 greatly attracted by musical sounds, and in one instance the 

 writer can personally vouch for a Seal fPhoca vitulina), which, 

 by the simple medium of whistling was induced to follow his boat 

 to and from the fishing grounds for several days in succession, 

 the animal frequently rising within an oar's length of the boat ; 

 strange to say it never attempted to seize any of the fish (mostly 

 Cod and Ling) as they came up on the hook, though it was seen 

 to hunt the small Sharks (Acanthias vulgar is and Galeus vulgaris) 

 which at that season infested the waters ; this occurred on the 

 North Coast of Ireland. The food of Seals does not consist so 

 greatly of fishes as is generally supposed, molluscs, crustaceans, 

 and medusae being staple articles in their diet, with an occasional 

 bird thrown in as a bonne bouche. Some species, such as the 

 Bearded Seal (Eriynathus barbatus), and the Ringed Seal (Phoca, 

 foetida), neither of which are to any extent migratory, are said 

 to feed almost exclusively on small crustaceans, chiefly of the 

 genus Gammarus. 



Various theories have been adduced as to the remarkable power 

 which permits these warm-blooded, air-breathing mammals to 

 remain under water for the space of, according to different 

 authorities, from eight to twenty minutes, but, Mr. Allen pro- 

 perly remarks, " none of these theories seem satisfactory." 



Genus III. OGMORHINUS, Peters (1875). 



Molar teeth separated from one another, with distinct pointed 

 cusps, the middle cusp being the largest and slightly recurved. 

 Muzzle compressed and elongated. 



Dentition. 1. f, 0. -J, M. -. x 2 = 32. 



e. F. Cuvier's name, Stenorhynchus, having been pre- 

 viously employed by Latreille for a genus of Coleopterous Insects, 

 it becomes necessary to adopt the term proposed by Dr. Peters. 



1. OGMORHINUS LEPTONYX, Blainville, sp. (1820). 

 Sea Leopard- 



Above ashy-gray with large spots and patches of yellowish- 

 white, or greenish-gray shading into creamy-white on the sides 

 which are blotched and spotted with black. Throat and belly 

 grayish- or yellowish- white, with or without small dark spots. 



Dimensions. Total length up to ten feet ; sexes not markedly 

 different in size. 



