172 Zoological N. Y. Zoological Society. [I; 8 



upper posterior branch is higher and the inferior branch shorter 

 than in the southern species. Its union with both maxillary and 

 squamosal is decidedly less oblique and its upper portion is more 

 strongly curved inward. 



The frontal portion of the skull is much higher and nar- 

 rower than in M. leoninus. The lower jaw is higher and its 

 angle greater. Other aspects of the skulls show strongly marked 

 differences, which appear also in the four other skulls examined. 



Protection. 



The northern elephant seal as we have seen, now breeds only 

 on Guadalupe Island. Its numbers are slowly increasing and it 

 is to be hoped that it will not be molested by seal oil hunters. The 

 principal source of danger to this herd lies in the fact that its 

 existence is now known in California where small-scale hunting 

 enterprises to Lower California are sometimes organized. 



The island is not inhabited and the Mexican government has 

 not heretofore been interested in the protection of its animal life. 

 It lies 140 miles off shore in latitude 29° 10' N., and longitude 

 118° 18' W., is twenty-one miles long and has an elevation near 

 its northern end of 4,523 feet. 



A plan was presented by the writer to the Secretary of 

 Commerce and Labor, whereby the Guadalupe herd might be pro- 

 tected through United States customs houses on the Pacific coast 

 by the refusal of clearance or entry to vessels dealing in seal 

 products from Mexican waters. We also urged that the matter 

 of protection of the elephant seals be brought to the attention of 

 the proper authorities in Mexico with a view to securing con- 

 certed action. We are now informed that the Secretary of State 

 has received information that the Mexican authorities have taken 

 steps to prevent the killing of these seals, and the Secretary of 

 the Treasury has been requested to assist in the work of protec- 

 tion through the administration of the customs. 



New Information. 



The observations made in 1911 on the elephant seal, together 

 with the specimens and photographs which were secured, appear 



