206 CARNIVOEA. 



waves are preferred by the handsomer and superior 

 species, which never condescends to the effeminacy of a 

 beach. A point or island will not be greatly resorted 

 to by these animals unless it slope gradually to the 

 water, and the shore be, as we term, steep too. This is 

 the case with the islet lying off Cape Banen, and 

 with Cone Point ; with part of the Passage Islands, and 

 the south end of Clarke's Island ; and at these places 

 only did I see Fur Seals in any number." 



The shape, attitude, and colour of this and other Fur 

 Seals must not be judged by the ill-mounted, badly 

 stuffed, faded, and sometimes moth-eaten specimens, 

 which are sometimes seen in museums. These are too 

 liable to mislead the public, whose ideas on Seals are 

 sometimes already confused, classifying the eared and 

 earless Seals all under one term of Seal, and thinking 

 that the Hair Seals of the Asiatic Seas produce the 

 well-known Seal-skin. Even amongst scientists, the 

 knowledge of the habitats of Seals is somewhat un- 

 certain, H. W. Elliott, the Government Inspector of the 

 Seal Islands of Alaska, however, being a marked 

 exception, his notes and works on the subject being 

 most excellent, and true to nature. 



NEW ZEALAND AND WEST AUSTEALIAN HAIR 



SEAL. 



Otaria cincrca. 



This Seal inhabits New Zealand and the West coast 

 ■ of Australia, and in former times Kangaroo Island, and 

 Waterhouse Isle. 



This is not a well-defined species. The colour of this 



