ALLEN : mammalia: otariid^. 127 



an examination of a good series of specimens from various localities. 

 In general coloration, ears and foot structure, they do not appear to differ 

 greatly from the northern species, although they must differ markedly (in 

 life) in physiognomy and more or less in the color and texture of the 

 pelage. 



Skull. — Skull short and broad, the brain-case subquadrate, the anteor- 

 bital region very short, not greatly depressed, the very short nasals only 

 very slightly sloping and the extreme front border slightly raised, giving 

 a marked retrousse effect ; zygomatic arches broadly expanded, the palate 

 strongly concave and the posterior nares narrow ; sagittal crest slightly 

 developed. The skull as a whole is shorter and broader than in A. phil- 

 ippii. The unworn teeth are distinctly tricuspid, there being a distinct, 

 low, pointed cusp at the anterior base of the main cusp, and a similar one 

 on its posterior border. Teeth relatively much smaller than in A. philippii. 



The following table of comparative measurements (p. 128) of four 

 skulls each of A. aitstralis and A. pJiilippii serve to illustrate the chief 

 points of cranial difference in the two species. 



General History. — The first introduction of the present species into 

 the literature of natural history appears to have been made by Pennant 

 in I78i,in his "History of Quadrupeds" (Vol. II, p. 521), where, under 

 the name "Falkland Isle Seal," he described a young fur seal in the Mu- 

 seum of the Royal Society sent "from the Falkland isles." Although 

 his description is very incomplete, it has always been considered as refer- 

 able to the Falkland Island Fur Seal. Pennant's account became the 

 following year (1782) the basis of Zimmermann's Plwca ansfralis. In 

 1 800 the same description formed the basis of Plwca falklandica Shaw, 

 under which name the species was commonly known till 1880, when 

 Zimmermann's long-forgotten earlier name was revived for it. 



In 1828 Lesson renamed Phoca falklandica, calling it Otaria sliawi, 

 and also, in the same year, named the "Otarie de Peron" of Blainville, 

 based on another young specimen from the Falkland Islands ("lies 

 Malouines"), Otaria hanvillii, making the third name based on young 

 specimens of the Falkland Island Fur Seal. The two Cuviers and vari- 

 ous other writers had previously referred the Southern Fur Seals to 

 Plwca tirsina, or to some vernacular equivalent, believing they were not 

 specifically different from the Fur Seals of the North, the Ursus marimis 

 of Steller. 



