Vol. XI, pp. 175-178 July 1, 1897 



PROCEEDINGS X 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTO 



f-. 



A NEW FUR-SEAL OR SEA-BEAR (ARCTOCEPHALUS 



TOWNSENDI) FROM GUADALUPE ISLAND, 



OFF LOWER CALIFORNIA. 



BY C. HART MERRIAM. 



During the recent international discussion respecting the seals 

 of Bering Sea, the matter of the distribution of the Northern 

 Fur-seal (Callorhimis vrsinus) lias received closer attention than 

 heretofore, and questions have arisen as to the southernmost 

 range of the species in the past. 



It had been known for many years that colonies of fur-seals 

 inhabited parts of Guadalupe and the San Benito Islands, off 

 the coast of Lower California, and these seals Avere commonly 

 assumed to be the northern species — the same that breeds in 

 such numbers at the Pribilof Islands in Bering Sea. But it 

 seemed to me a violation of the known laws of geographic dis- 

 tribution that a species adapted to the arctic climate and cold 

 waters of Bering Sea, and even there requiring constant fogs to 

 protect it from the feeble rays of the sun, should lie able to breed 

 under clear skies on the subtropical islands of Guadalupe and 

 San Benito. 



During the sessions of the Bering Sea Joint Commission, in 

 Februar}^ and March, 1892, I made bold to express the opinion 

 that the fur-seal which breeds on these islands would prove to 

 be, not the northern species Ijclonging to the genus CaUorhinus, 

 but a southern species belonging to the genus ArdocephalKS. No 

 specimens were at liand for examination, but through the co- 

 operation of the Department of State and Fish Commission I 

 was enabled to send a small boat, in direct charge of INlr. C. H. 

 Townsend, on a special mission to Guadalupe Island. 



^Ir. Townsend sailed from San Diego on Ma}' 14, 1892, reached 

 Guadalupe on the 16th, and remained there until the 27th. He 



41— Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XI. 1897 (17.5) 



