Mr. R. Hamilton on the Fur Seal of Commerce. 85 



numbers in the South Shetland islands, which he was the first 

 to discover. He expressly states, ee that the species of seal 

 which inhabits the shores of these last-named islands is ex- 

 clusively the fur seal ;" and again he says, i: I have mentioned 

 that the only species of seal found in these islands is that pos- 

 sessing the fur :" and he adds, Ci the circumstance of its pos- 

 sessing a valuable fur has not been noticed in any description 

 of the seal which I have met*." Our researches have probably 

 been somewhat more extended than those of Mr. Weddell, and 

 it will be seen that our remarks are very much in accordance 

 with his observation. 



Among several other good offices which this gentleman per- 

 formed for this department of science, one was his conveying 

 to this country, and depositing in the hands of the eminent 

 keeper of the Museum of the University of Edinburgh, two 

 specimens of the stuffed skins of this animal ; and assuredly, 

 judging from what he has done in other cases, he would have 

 done more, had he not imagined that naturalists on this point 

 required no help from him. These two specimens are now in 

 the Museum, preserved in excellent order, and though insuffi- 

 cient satisfactorily to establish all the characters of the ani- 

 mal, yet as supplying the majority of them, we shall present 

 a faithful sketch and a detailed description. The specimens 

 are very nearly alike in every respect ; they appear to have 

 been carefully and accurately prepared, and to have been ob- 

 tained from female animals f. Judging from the specimens, 

 this seal upon the whole is long and slender J, having much 

 the shape of a double cone, largest at the middle and tapering 

 at both extremities. The head is broad and rather flat ; the 

 external ear is black, narrow, and pointed. The fore paws are 

 precisely in the middle of the animal ; their shape is pyramidal, 

 and in addition to the fore paw, properly so called, there is a 

 strong projecting membrane running from the tip along the 

 posterior margin to the base ; they have no vestige of nails. 



* Loc. cit. p. 137, 141-2. 



f For the accompanying very beautiful drawing I am indebted to the 

 kindness and skill of Mr. Stewart, so well known for his faithful and elegant 

 sketches of animated nature, and we have no doubt that an acquaintance with 

 this drawing alone would enable any one at once to recognise the animal. 



X I would here observe that in noting the characters I have had the valu- 

 able assistance of my friend Mr. William Jameson. 



