Mr. Ball on the Species of Seals inhabiting the Irish Seas. 97 



worn teeth it must have been very aged. Its skeleton measures seven feet two 

 inches in length. 



Believing, with Cuvier, that the history of the seals can only be elucidated by 

 a new series of observations, I have made few allusions to former writers on the 

 subject, and conclude with a hope, that others who have more time and oppor- 

 tunity than I have had will continue the investigation here commenced, into the 

 history of the Phocidae of Ireland. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 



HALICHCERUS GRYPHUS. 



Plate 1. — Fig. 1. Female shot by Captain Sommerville Digby, July, 1836, at 



Lambay, near Dublin ; supposed to be two years old ; 

 six feet in length. 



Fig. 2. Young male, taken at Youghal, County Cork, October, 

 1832. 



Fig. 3. Young female, killed with its mother near Youghal. 



Plate Il.—Fig. 4, 5, 6. Skull of No. 1. 



Fig. 4, a. a. Palatal Foramina, alluded to at page 91? line 9, to 

 compare with a. a. fig. 14. 



Plate III. — Fig. 7. Lower jaw of No. 3, natural size. 

 Fig. 8. Do. No. 1, do. 



Fig. 9. Do. mother of No. 3, do. 



Fig.lO. Teeth of Do. 



PHOCA VITULINA. 



Plate TV.— Fig. 11, 12. Seal taken at Lissadill, County Sligo, Sept. 1836. 

 Fig. 13. Seal shot in River LifFey, October, 1836. 



VOL. XVIII. O 



