30 . rnociD^. 



previous experience — that each species of Seal has a limited, indeed 

 I may say a very well-definod and very limited, geographical dis- 

 tribution. Though the species are veiy ditficult to distinguish by 

 their external characters, yet the skeleton, and especially the skull, 

 affords -well-marked and very definite characters. 



M. Lepechin described a Phoca oceanica (Act. Petrop. 1777, 259. 

 t. 6 & 7), which has been considered the same as Pagopliihis Grcen- 

 landicus, as abimdaut on the ice aroimd Nova Zembla. It would be 

 desirable to see the skull of a specimen from that locality, and thus 

 discover which species extends itself so far north as those islands. 

 Phoca oceanica, in its young and old state of fur, resembles Pcujo- 

 phUiis Grcenlanclicus ; but unfortunately we have only a very limited 

 knowledge of the external appearance of this new Seal {Halicyon 

 Bichanli) from Yancouver's Island. 



The study of a large series of specimens of several species of 

 Seals shows that the form of the lower jaw, though hitherto little 

 attended to by zoologists, affords a very good character for the dis- 

 tinction of the species. — Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, 28. 



1. Halicyon Richardi, sp. nov. 

 Fur pale brown ; when young, darker. 



Halicyon Richardi, Gray, Proc. Zool. Sac. 1864, 28. 

 Phoca Grcenlandica, Middendorff, Heise in den amse7-stett N. mid O. 

 Sibiriens, i. 222. 



luhab. Eraser's Eiver and Vancouver's Island. 



Mr. Charles B. Wood, Surgeon of H.M.S. ' Hecate,' has veiy kindly 

 sent to the British Museum, along with other interesting specimens 

 from the north-western part of North America, the skeleton of a 

 Seal from Eraser's Eiver, and the skull of a Seal obtained on the 

 west coast of Vancouver's Island. 



The skuU was prociu-ed from the natives, who were towing the 

 animal alongside of their canoe. They refused to part with the 

 entire animal, but were at length induced to sell the head. 



The examination of the skulls shows that the two Seals evidently 

 belong to the same species, the specimen fi'om Eraser's Biver being 

 adult, and the other not quite so old. Mr. Wood observes that " the 

 younger Seal was captured among the islands in Queen Charlotte's 

 Sound, at the north end of Vancouver ; has a fur of a dark brown, 

 almost black colour ; and is unlike that from Eraser's Biver, which 

 is lighter and less timid, being often seen seated on a log floating 

 down with the current." — P. Z. S. 1864. 



This species, at the request of Mr. Wood, is dedicated to Captain 

 Bichard, the Hydi'ographer to the Admiralty, and Captain of H.M.S. 

 ' Hecate' when these Seals were collected. I have the more pleasure 

 in doing this, as the Museum has received many veiy interesting 

 specimens collected diu'ing the voyage of the ' Hecate,' showing the 

 interest which her Commander takes in the natural sciences, wMch 

 I have no doubt will receive additional encouragemeut in the new 



