230 SEA-LIONS. 



this point at present, we merely state that we think it 

 best to follow the example of Peron, and of the 

 Diet. Classique, and to treat of these species seve- 

 rally. We shall resort, as much as possible, to the 

 original sources of information, and shall thus, in a 

 great degree, put our readers in a condition to form 

 their own judgment. 



GENUS PLATYRHINCUS. 



We have now arrived at the sixth genus of M. F. 

 Cuvier, concerning the osteology of which he con- 

 fesses that nothing satisfactory is known. He had 

 before him a cranium, which, by the bye, he does 

 not indicate, which was different from all the others, 

 and which was labelled as a Sea- Lion's ; and with- 

 out attempting to refer it to any one species, he 

 establishes upon it the present genus. This, of 

 course, was only groping in the dark, though it was 

 at the same time making progress, so far as unequi- 

 vocally to indicate another kind of Seal. Since that 

 time, other not less extraordinary crania have been 

 discovered, and of some of these we shall avail our- 

 selves, at the same time begging attention to the 



