208 



THE PROBOSCIS SEAL, OR 

 ELEPHANT SEAL. 



Ph. Proboscidea PERON. 



PLATE XVI THE MALE. 



Phoca Proboscidea, Peron, Des. 368. Ph. Elcphantina, Molina, 

 Elephant Seal of the English. Phoque a trompeof the French. 

 Macroi hinus Proboscidius, F. Cuv. Miouroung of native Aus- 

 tralians.* 



THIS animal has received its specific name from 

 the able Naturalist of the Voyage aux Terres Aus- 

 trebles^ on account of the very peculiar appearance 

 of its short trunk. It is not, however, from this 

 point of resemblance alone that it has acquired the 

 name of Sea-Elephant, but also because it is by 

 much the largest of its kind, in this respect more 

 than doubling the dimensions of its terrestrial 

 namesake, reaching the enormous length of twenty- 

 five and thirty feet, maintaining withal a proportionate 

 thickness. From being an object of great commer- 

 ce ial importance it has attracted much attention, and 



This i- also the Sea- Lion of Anson, and the Sea- Wolf of 

 Pfrnetty 



