GEM US EUMETOPIAS. 231 



vented. But nowhere else has there been systematic protection 

 of the Fur Seals, or any measures taken to prevent wasteful or 

 undue destruction. 



GENUS EUMETOPIAS, Gill. 



<>/<d-ia, in part of various authors. 



Arctoceplialus (iu part), GRAY, Cat. Seals and Whales, I860, 51. 

 Eumetopias, GILL, Proc. Esses Institute, v. 7, 11, July, 1866. Type " Otaria 

 calif ornianns, Lessou, = Arctoccplialus monteriensis, Gray." 



Molars 5-1:5 =-nr 5 the upper hinder pair separated from the 

 others by a considerable interval; the last only double-rooted. 

 Postorbital processes quadrate. Palatine surface of the inter - 

 maxillaries flat, only slightly depressed, and greatly contracted 

 posteriorly ; the palatals moderately produced, extending about 

 three-fourths of the distance from the anterior end of the zygo- 

 matic arch to the pterygoid process; their posterior margin 

 straight, or slightly or deeply einarginate; rarely deeply so in 

 old age. 



Eumeioplas differs from Otaria, as restricted by Gill, in hav- 

 ing one pair less of upper molars, a much less posterior exten- 

 sion of the palatine bones, and in having the posterior portion 

 of the palatal surface less than one-third, instead of more than 

 one-half, the width of the anterior portion, and but slightly in- 

 stead of deeply depressed; also in the greater depth of the 

 skull anteriorly, and in the less development of the occipital 

 and sagittal crests. In Eumetopias the depth of the skull at 

 the anterior border of the orbits is nearly as great as in the 

 plane of the occiput, while in Otaria these proportions are as 

 13 to 18, there being in the latter a marked declination anteri- 

 orly in the superior outline of the skull. The breadth of the 

 skull at the temporal fossae is also much greater than in Otaria; 

 that is, the skull is much less constricted behind the orbits. 

 The postorbital processes also differ considerably in form in 

 the two genera, while another noteworthy difference is the un- 

 usually great development in Otaria of the pterygoid hamuli. * 



* A comparison of adult male skulls of Eiimetopias and Otaria, of strictly 

 corresponding ages, shows the following differences : 



Eumetopias stelleri (No. 1765) : height of skull in occipital plane 155 mm.; 

 height of skull at anterior edge of orbits 152 mm. 



Otaria jiibata (No. 1095): height of skull in occipital plane 180 mm.; height 

 of skull at anterior edge of orbits 130 mm. 



Comparing the same skulls in respect to the development of the pterygoid 

 hamuli it is found that when placed on a plane surface the skull of E. std- 



