SKAL-KAFBUYOS. 13 



appeared to arise iu common witli this extonsor ami was inserted into the fascia 

 covering the dorsal surface of the carpus. 



I am omitting any account of the nius(;les of the hinder extremity, as the limbs 

 were so rigidly fixed in the older specimens and the muscles in such a brittle condition 

 that any data which could be obtained seem to me to be unreliable. The facts related 

 with regard to the muscles of the anterior extremity are, I believe, .so far as stated, 

 trustworthy. 



A consideration of these facts tends towards certain conclusions : — 



(i.) The muscles as a whole show a closer agreement with the mu.scles of Trichechus 

 than with those of Otaria. There are one or two exceptions [e.g. Flexor brevis 

 digitorum, Kxtensor ossis metacarpi pollicis), but the general tendency is as just stated. 



(ii.) Alivart's suggestion of a Lutriue origin for the Phocidaj seems to receive 

 some additional support, the mu.scles as a whole agreeing rather more closely 

 with the accounts given by Drs. Parsons and Windle of the myology of Lutra than 

 with that of other terrestrial Carnivores. 



Alimentary System. 



The upper lip, which is cleft in the middle line, carries six rows of stifl" 

 elongated vibri.ssai on either side. The tongue also is cleft at the tip, though in 

 the later embryonic stages the fissure is I'elativcly not so deep. The lingual papilla) 

 do not become distinctly visible to the nuked eye until the latter part of foetal life, 

 and even in the oldest specimens tlie anterior third of the dorsum of the tongue 

 appears to be destitute of them. On the posterior two-thirds of the dorsum filiform 

 papillae are distinctly visible, being arranged in fairly regular transverse rows, where 

 they are so closely set as to give rise to the appearance of almost continuous 

 ridges with a slightly backward inclination. At the root of the tongue, in the 

 region of the foramen caecum, there is a group of well-marked fungiform and 

 circumvallate papillae. 



The faucial region is much constricted, allowing oidy a small pas.sage into the 

 cesophagus. Neither the anterior nor posterior pillars of the fauces are evident, nor is 

 any uvula present. (Jn each side of the fauces is a patch of follicular-looking tissue, 

 which probably represents the tonsil. 



The teeth have not erupted in any (jf the .specimens. The dental fornmla of 



Weddell's Seal agi-ccs with that of the other members of the sub-family .Monachina;, 



. .2-21-1 4-4 1-1 ^„ ,. . . . , 



viz., I ^ _ ^ , c 1 _^r, pfii' A _ A> '" 1 _T ~ '^"' median nicisors lu the upper 



jaw are relatively small, the outer ones being considerably larger antl more caniniform 

 in shape. There is no diastema between the incisors. Between the outer incisor and 

 the canine there is an interval, but none between the canine and first premolar. 

 Passing towards the posterior end of the jaw, the intervals between the cheek teeth 



