INTRODUCTION. 43 



rities, which are now, for the first time, presented to 

 the British Public. These are " the true P. vitulina" 

 of the French Coast, (No. 3,) and the Marbled- 

 Seal, (No. 4,) of the distinguished Cuviers ; the 

 Rough-Seal, (No. 8,) one of those animals which 

 constitutes a considerable portion of the Northern 

 Seal fishery; the Hare-Seal of Northern Russia, 

 (No. 9 ;) the Small-nailed Seal of De Blainville, 

 (No. 11;) the Crested-Seal, (No. 14,) and the 

 Hooded- Seal, (No. 15,) over both of which there still 

 hangs considerable obscurity ; the Sea-Elephant of 

 Peron, (No. 16,) the chief object of the South Sea 

 fishing for Seal oil ; and the Cape, (No. 20,) and 

 Lesson's Otaries, (No. 24.) These exhibitions of 

 fifteen species, (may we call them ?) obtained from 

 sources and authorities of established celebrity, 

 together with those more familiarly known, and our 

 best efforts to associate with each whatever specific 

 information has been collected, will do something, 

 we trust, to increase the facilities of investigation, 

 as well as provoke the further endeavours of Na- 

 turalists, and others, to new triumphs over the many 

 difficulties which still envelope this interesting sub- 

 ject. 



