1 6 Soitthern Cross. 



l)y two auimals which must have been formerly ck)sely allied, and 

 Avhic;h are subject to the influence of precisely similar surroundings. 



P.S. — In the account of each Seal my procedure has been to 

 commence, as usual, with the synonymy. Under this heading I 

 give not a complete list of the works wherein any given species 

 has been mentioned — a method involving, so far as I can see, 

 immense labour without any corresponding advantages — but a list 

 of the principal references to the species. 



After the synonymy follows an indication of the location 

 and origin of the type specimens when known, succeeded by para- 

 graphs dealing with the history, distribution, habits, and external 

 appearance. 



Next comes a short description of the skull. The principal 

 dimensions of the crania brought home by the ' Southern Cross ' are 

 compared with those of the specimens procured by the staff of the 

 ' Belgica ' and with those in the British Museum. 



There are general remarks on any character which seems 

 deserving of special notice, a short list of the distinguishing 

 characteristics for the guidance of the zoologists accompanying the 

 new British expedition, and a summary of what is known of the 

 habits and distribution. 



Any attempt at a detailed description of either skulls or 

 skins has been purposely avoided. In the case of the skins of 

 the ^Southern Cross' collection I have had no opportunity of 

 inspecting them (with the exception of one or two examples) in a 

 condition in which it would have been possible to describe them. 

 Moreover, I believe that descriptions and dimensions of Seals, to be 

 of value, should be taken from the animals when in the flesh. 



As regards the skulls, there is not one of which I know the sex, 

 and only a few of which I know the skin appertaining to them. It 

 would, in my opinion, be of little value to enter into details regarding 

 specimens, the labels of which have perished from want of care on 

 the part of those entrusted w4th their preservation. Moreover, 

 owing to the death of Mr. Hanson, and the absence of his notes, the 

 whole work will have to be performed again from the collections 

 procured by the various expeditions which started in 1901. 



