8 Southern Cross. 



throuohout the winter. As to the moult of the Seals Mr. Borchszrevink 

 simply remarks (p. 382) : " The moulting starts on the back, in a 

 straight line from nose to tail." 



As to the migratory movements, if any, on the part of the Seals, 

 we have practically no evidence. Mr. Hanson is silent on the subject, 

 and Mr. Borchgrevink's remarks certainly do not help us as to the 

 existence of any extensive migration. 



Classification, Relationship, &g. — In dealing with the 

 Antarctic Phocidae, it is hardly possible to escape from the difficult 

 questions of classification and relationship. I am, however, fortunate 

 in this respect to be able to follow in the footsteps of zoologists like 

 the late Sir William Flower, Dr. St. George Mivart, and Sir 

 William Turner.^ They have entered into the matter rather fully, 

 and I feel little reason to depart from their conclusions, although 

 I was in duty bound to verify them for my own satisfaction. 



The number of the incisor teeth has usually been taken as the 

 most convenient feature upon which to base a classification of the 

 Fhocidae. It seems, however, at first sight a somewhat artificial 

 proceeding to attach so much importance to a single character, 

 especially as such great divergences occur amongst the teeth in 

 this family. I therefore set to work to ascertain if any other 

 more natural character should be forthcoming. My inquiry was 

 without success, and I am bound to say that there is no character 

 which agrees so well with the known facts of distribution as does 

 that of the number of the incisor teeth. Adopting this, we have 

 three clearly defined groups, of which one, the Fhocinae, includes 

 nearly all the northern forms, another, the Stenorhynchinae, nearly 

 all the southern, with the addition of the tropical and sub-tropical 

 Monaclius, while the third, the Cystophorhiiice, includes the geo- 

 graphically separated, but certainly allied, Cystopliora and Macro- 

 rhimcs. No other character would give such clearly defined groups. 

 To take the shape of the teeth, for instance. Here all kinds of 

 intermediate forms exist, from the feeble organs of Omynatophoca 

 to the extraordinary and highly specialised instruments of Lohodon 

 or of Ogmorhinus. further, on this basis, the little Phoca hispida 

 of Arctic waters would find its nearest relative in the giant Antarctic 

 Ogmorhinus, since the teeth of the one are miniatures of those of 

 the other. Moreover, if there be any meaning in the prevalent 



1 Cf., for instance, Sir William Flower (P.Z.S. 188], pp. 145-162); Dr. INIivart 

 (P.Z.S. 1835, pp. 484 to 501), and Mr. H. N. Turner (P.Z.S. 1848, pp. 63 

 to 88). 



