GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 585 



cies.* Although still occasionally appearing on the coast of the 

 Atlantic States as far southward as North Carolina,t it is of 

 probably only accidental occurrence south of New Jersey, and 

 rare south of Massachusetts. 



In respect to its occurrence on the New Jersey coast. Dr. C. 

 C. Abbott, the well-known naturalist of Trenton, N. J., kindly 

 writes me, in answer to my inquiries on this point, as follows : 

 " In going over my note-books, I find I have there recorded the 

 occurrence of seals (Plioca vitulina) at Trenton, N. J.,as follows : 

 December, 1861 ; January, 1864 ; December, 1866 ; February, 

 1870 ; and December, 1877. In these five instances a single 

 specimen was killed on the ledge of rocks 'crossing the river 

 here and forming the rapids. In December, 1861, three were 

 seen, and two in February, 1870. A week later one was cap- 

 tured down the river near Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

 My impression is that in severe winters they are really much 

 more abundant in the Delaware Eiver than is supposed. Con- 

 sidering how small a chance there is of their being seen when 

 the river is choked with ice, I am disposed to believe that an 

 occasional pair or more come up the river, even as high as 

 Trenton, the head of tide- water, and one hundred and thirty - 

 -eight miles from the ocean. 



u On examination of old local histories, I find reference to the 

 seals as not uncommon along our coast, and as quite frequently 

 wandering up our rivers in winter. I can find no newspaper 

 references to the occurrence of seals later than February or 

 earlier than December, but as historical references to climate, 

 as well as the memory of aged men still living, show conclu- 

 sively that our winters are now much milder than they were 

 *even fifty years ago, it is probable that seals did come up the 

 river earlier in past years. 



"In conversation with an old fisherman, now seventy-six 

 years old, who has always lived at Trenton, and has been a 



* New York Zoology, part i, 1842, pp. 54, 55. 



t A recent record of its capture in North Carolina is the following, the k 

 reference, I think, unquestionably relating to the present species : 



" SOUTHERN RANGE OF THE SEAL. The Wilmington, N. C., Star of Feb- 

 ruary 28th, mentions the capture, in New River, Onslow County, of a large 

 female spotted seal, measuring about 7 feet in length, and weighing 250 

 pounds. This is an interesting note. The species must probably have been 

 :the common harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). The same newspaper says one 

 was reported near Beaufort some time ago." fW. E. D. SCOTT,] "Country," 

 vol. i, No. 21, p. 292, March 16, 1878. 



