47 



DIVISION 54, n. 



Group of Australian Eared Seals. 



Arctoceplialus (Otaria) cinereus, Pb-on. Adults, male and 

 female, and young ones. 



There are two, if not three, species of seals still frequenting 

 the New South Wales coast. The largest, called the sea- 

 leopard, StenorJiyncJius leptonyx, is the rarest, being only 

 occasionally found after severe gales, and then generally in 

 a dead or dying condition. Some of these animals attain 

 the length of from lo to 14 feet. The skin would make 

 good leather, but it is of no value for its fur, and being so 

 seldom found cannot be looked upon as of any commercial 

 value. 



The more common species, Otaria cinerea, Peron, which 

 a few years ago was so rapidly becoming extinct that it was 

 found necessary to have them protected by Government, 

 is now happily on the increase, and a fine herd of this beau- 

 tiful species still inhabits the " Seal Rocks," a little north of 

 Port Stephens. With respect to this species Professor J. 

 W. Clark, of Cambridge, has kindly sent me the following 

 note : — 



Otaria cinerea. Ph-on. 



"This species was first determined by Peron, whose 

 'Voyage aux Terres Australes ' was published in 18 10. 

 He brought home no specimens ; but a skull, collected at 

 Port Western by MM. Quoy and Gaimard in 1830, was 

 considered by them to represent Peron's species. This 

 skull is now in the Museum at Paris, and may be regarded 

 as the type of the species. The skull of the male exhibited 

 in the New South Wales Court has been compared with it, 



