580 



PHOCA VITULINA HARBOR SEAL. 



A curious mistake made by Peale in his (suppressed) report 

 on the Mammals and Birds of the United States Exploring Ex- 



FK;. 44. "Halichcerus antarcticus", Peale=Phoca vitulina, f natural size. 



pedition under Commodore Wilkes has played an important 

 role in the technical history of the species. A specimen (skin 



FIG. 45. "Halichcerus antarcticus", Peale=Phoca vitulina, 7 natural size. 



and skull,* still extant in the National Museum) was described 

 under the name Halichcerus antarcticus, with the remark, "This 



* This skull (No. ff|f, Nat. Mus.) is represented in Figs. 44-47, four- 

 sevenths natural size. 



