SYNOPSIS OF PINNIPEDS. 375 



The South Shethmds are noted for the superior quality of fur-seal 

 skins obtained there, and it is not improbable that an „ x^ c.. ., , -r 



,. n • x- i.1 1 ,. ,1 South Shetland Ig- 



examination or specimens irom there and from the lands. 

 South Georgian Islands would show them to be S]>eci- snuth Georgian is- 

 fically separable from the Falkland Island and Pat- ^'°'^^- 

 agonian si)ecies. 



10. South African Fuk-Seat., Avcioccphahis (IrJahnnll (Gray). 



Rahitat: Shores and adjacent islands of the west coast of South Africa, 

 north to about latitude 28° S. ; also Tristan d'Acuuha and Gougli 

 Islands. 



The slaughter of hundreds of thousands of these fur-seals for their 

 skins during the early part of the present century ^ 

 brought the species to the verge of extinction. Of late ^^'^^^'^'^'^ ''""«"s- 

 years the small remnant existing on the west coast of 

 Cape Colony have been preserved from extermination . Government protec- 

 through the protection of the Colonial Government of *'""' 

 Cape Colony. 



The iur-seal of the Tristan d'Acunha group and Gough Island, 

 where formerly thousands were killed annually, is pro- 



.. n e 1 1. ^.1 • • .^JX Tri-stan d'Acunha 



visionally referred to this species. and Gough island. 



11. Keuguelen Fur-Seal, Arcioceplialus gazella (Peters). 



Hahiiat: Kerguelen I.-^land, St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands, and 

 probably the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands. 



This species has the same history as the preceding — once abundant 

 at all the groups of islands above named, there have been for the last 

 forty years not enougli of them left to be of real commercial impor- 

 tance. 



12. New Zealand Fcr-Seal, Arciocephahis fomleri (Lesson). 



HaMtat: Coasts and adjacent islands of l^ew Zealand, southwestern 

 Australia, and Tasmania, and the Oceanic I.slands to the southward 

 and eastward (Chatham, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Mac- 

 quarie, etc.). 



This species has the same history in respect to former abundance and 

 subsequent decrease to the verge of extinction as the 

 preceding species. Of late years the few remaining ppot^ection®"^'^™™'^"* 

 within the jurisdiction of the colony of New Zealand 

 have received government protection. 



Habits of Southern Fur- Seals (Genus Arctocephaliis). 



The habits of no wild animal during the breeding season are perhaps 

 better known than are those of the Nortliern or Alaskan Fur-Seal. The 

 time of their arrival in spring at the Pribilof rookeries, their polygamous 

 and gregarious habits, the manner of reproduction, and the character and 

 behavior of the different classes of seals constituting the herds have 

 again and again been recounted with the utmost detail. Much less has 

 been written of the habits of the various Southern fur-seals, but 

 enough has been recorded by the early exjdorers and by intelligent 

 sealing masters to shovr that lur se^ds everywhere have the same gen- 

 eral habits. The very careful observations of Delano, Fanning, Wed- 

 dell, and especially of Morrell, made during the early part of the present 



