280 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th See. 



Explanation, Plate 10 



LEOPARD SEAL 

 (Phoca richardi geronimensis) 



These interesting seals are fairly common in many places along the 

 California coast, particularly in the bays. Unlike the fur seals which 

 are highly polygamous, the harbor seals are monogamous. On the Cali- 

 iornia coast the young are born in April and. May ; one pup is the rule. 

 These seals arc not migratory, nor are they as gregarious as other seals. 

 They are comparatively silent, not making a loud roaring or barking as 

 sea lions do. They are fond of basking in the sun, especially at low tide. 

 On the land they are clumsy creatures. They move by pulling themselves 

 forward by their foreflippers; in swimming the hind flippers do most of 

 the work. The rookery here shown is at Cypress Point, near Pacific 

 Grove, California, where the animals were obtained. 



Group prepared under the direction of John Rowley. 



The background was painted by Charles Bradford Hudson. 



Photo by Gabriel Moulin. 



