2G2 



NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IX ALASKA. 



all of the uuuierous speciiueus seen by us iu tlie pack were just north of the Siberiau coast, it 

 appears that this species is much more iiuiuerous and more widely distributed oii the Asiatic shore 

 than ou the adjoiuing American coast. 



Although we saw only males iu the pack-ice, yet the females must summer there also, shice the 

 l)cople obtaiu both females and young tliere with the males iu the migration. 



PHOCA riETIDA F 



ibricius. Ringed Seal (Esk. tnh-o-ffUc). 



This species occurs with P. vltulina at Saint Michaels. Five skulls were obtained, one, No. 

 21473, having the crowns of the teeth entirely worn away. 



The species was obtained by Mr. Murdoch at Point Barrow, but has uot apparently been 

 reported hitherto as far south as Norton Sound. 



The specimeus referred to are from Unalakleet and Saint Michaels. In the smallest skull. No. 

 21471, having a basi-crauial length of 145""", the occipito-sphenoidal suture is still open. In propor- 

 tions they agree entirely with specimens from the North Atlantic, as will appear upon comparison 

 of the subjoined measurements with those given by Allen. 



A young individual, about 030""" from nose to tail, agrees very closely with a yearling brought 

 from Cumberland Gulf by Mr. Kumlieu. The basal portion of the hairs is not so dark, the whis- 

 kers are less fall, and the claws are unworn; otherwise the two specimens present a similar 

 appearance. 



Veaiurciiieiits of five sl:ulh of Phoca fceticla. 



List of specimens 



BiograpMcal notes. — The Ringed Seal is an abundant winter resident iu the northern half of 

 Bering Sea, its range reaching the mouth of the Kuskoquim River and extending thence in a 

 westerly course across the sea iu a line coinciding with the southern edge of the ice-pack. When 

 the ice leaves the shore iu spring, and the pack-ice is drifting along the coast in May and the early 

 part of June, these seals are found in considerable numbers among the ice well oifshore. They 

 gather in large bunches on large icecakes and are hunted there by the Eskimo. The latter wear a 

 shirt made of white sheeting and paddle cautiously up to a piece of ice on which the seals are 

 gathered, and disguised in their white dress are able to land and get among the seals before the 

 latter are alarmed. A stout club is usually employed on such occasions, and sometimes a man will 

 secure a number. This style of hunting is practiced off the Yukon mouth and thence northward, 

 at least to the northern shore of Norton Sound. 



In Norton Sound the males become very rank after the last of March, and the Eskimo say 

 that only a part of them are able to eat its flesh at this season, as it makes some of them ill. 



