NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 95 



authority of Mr. M'Neil, of Colonsay, is given,* but we have no 

 positive records of its occurrence beyond the accounts quoted of 

 Bell's "British Quadrupeds," 2nd ed., pp. 248-9. 



6. GREENLAND SEAL. 

 Phoca groenlaxdica, Fabricius. 



On the 2nd of May I saw four of this species upon a rock in 

 the Sound of Harris. Mr. Macdonald, of Newton, and I started 

 down the Sound in one of his boats, in quest of Seals. After firing 

 two ineffectual shots at Seals in the water, we spied several lying 

 on a rock, a good way out in the Sound. Getting well to leeward, 

 we dropped gently down behind the rock, and landed, but a slight 

 scrape upon the rough projections of the surface startled them, and 

 before we got over the top they had slid into the deep water. 

 .Running forward we had a good view of thern, as they kept close 

 in and often rushed past within a few feet of where we were stand- 

 ing, and "the large splashy-looking, dark marks on either side of 

 the back " were distinctly visible (I quote almost exactly from my 

 Journal). I fired into one near the rock, but before the boat could 

 be brought round he sank. The strong tide running made it vain 

 to search for him. 



As regards the evidence of this species occurring in the 

 British seas, I think that given by Mr. Henry D. Graham is well 

 worthy of credence. Mr. Graham, well known as a careful observer 

 and a naturalist of ability, saw "three of these rare visitors to 

 British waters" in Loch Tarbert, Jura, and, with the aid of a 

 powerful telescope, " both he and his friends could distinctly make 

 out the markings which characterize the Harp Seal," and "the 

 animals remained in full view for three hours, constantly watched." 

 Mr. Graham appears to have been quite aware of the name Tap- 

 vaist being indiscriminately applied to several species of large Seal. 

 (Vide Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgoiv, Yol. i., p. 53, 1868.) 



GREAT GREY SEAL. 



Halichoerus gryphus, Fabricius. 



Haskier Island has long been known as a resort of this species. 

 Pennant mentions Seals in "Hiskyr" in 1777. Captain Macdonald, 

 R.N., showed me a very fine skin of one he had shot in the Sound 



* Bell's " British Quadrupeds," 2nd ed., p. 249. 



