THE LEOPARD SEAL. 343 



X.— GENUS LEPTONYX. 



The False Sea Leopard, or Leopard Seal, Lcptonyx Weddellii, the 

 only species yet discovered, is distinguishable from the other Seals by 

 means of its slender neck, and the wider gape of its mouth, which 

 opens further backward than is generally the case. The body is 

 rather curiously formed, being largest toward the middle, from whence 

 it tapers rapidly to the short and inconspicuous tail. 



The fore-paws are without any projecting membrane, and are largest 

 at the thumb-joint, diminishing gradually to the last joint. The claws 

 are sharp and curved, and rather deeply grooved ; their color is black. 

 The hind-feet are devoid of claws and projecting membrane, and bear 

 some resemblance to the tail-fin of a fish. The color of this Seal is gen- 

 erally a pale gray, relieved with a number of pale grayish-white spots, 

 which have earned for the animal the name of Leopard Seal. The exter- 

 nal ears are wanting. 



Very little is known of the habits of this Seal. Captain Weddell, 

 who first noticed this species, speaks of it casually as a well-known 

 animal, merely mentioning that his men caught so many Leopard Seals, 

 or that they secured so many Seal skins and so many Leopard Seal skins 

 in the course of their hunt. 



It is not a very large animal, as the average length of the largest 

 specimens is scarcely ten feet. Around the largest part of the body the 

 circumference measures nearly six feet and a half, round the root of the 

 tail about two feet three inches, and round the neck barely two feet. It 

 was recorded by Captain Weddell to have been seen off the South Ork- 

 neys. Some specimens in the British Museum were taken off the eastern 

 coast of Polynesia. As far as is yet known, these animals are only found 

 in the Southern hemisphere. 



XI.— GENUS OMMATOPHOCA. 



This genus is distinguished by a short, broad muzzle, and very large 

 orbits of the eyes. Its habitation is the Antarctic Ocean. It contains 

 only one species. 



Ross's Large-eyed Seal, Ommatophoca Rossii, has a greenish-yellow 

 fur, with oblique yellow stripes on the side. 



