149. 



THE MARBLED SEAL. 



PLATE IV. 



Phoca discolor. Calocephalus discolor, Fr. Cuv. C. Marbre, 

 Less. 



WE next introduce another variety captured on the 

 French coast, which was originally identified, but 

 subsequently dissociated from the true P. vitulina. 

 Baron Cuvier states, that it does not appear to be a 

 variety proceeding from age and sex only, though 

 its cranium, he adds, does not sensibly vary from 

 the Common Seal.* Professor Nilsson, we under- 

 stand, regards it as a distinct species, and applies 

 to it the name annellata. 



M. F. Cuvier remarks " I was for a considerable 

 time in possession of the individual on which I 

 found this species. My specimen was young, and its 

 size appeared to correspond with that of the Com- 

 mon Seal." The colours, however, in which it was 

 clad were very different. All the ground-work of 

 its coat was of a very deep grey, varied with whit- 



Oss. Foss. v. 201. 



