SEA-BEAR I'.R FORSTER. 265 



widely diffused, for supposing that all these accounts 

 refer to the same species, we have seen it noticed in 

 Dusky Bay, New Zealand, in New Georgia, Stat- 

 ten Land, Juan Fernandez, and the Gallapagos. 



It will have been observed that several of these 

 authorities, particularly Dampier and Cook, speak of 

 the fineness of the fur of this Seal. It is probably these 

 statements which have led the able author of the ar- 

 ticle Phoque, in the Diet. Classique d'Hist. Naturelle, 

 to state that this Seal is the Fur- Seal of commerce 

 His words are " L'Otarii de Forster est le Phoque 

 a fourrures des pecheurs europeens." But this we 

 suspect is a mistake. No one will doubt that 

 Captain Weddell was familiar with the Fur- Seal. 

 He was also familiar with the Ursine- Seal, both as 

 encountered in its haunts, and as described by Na- 

 turalists ;* and yet, when speaking of the Ursine- 

 Seal, (so denominated by him,) he never once hints 

 that its fur has any peculiar value, but the contrary. 

 This important subject, however, will again come 

 under our consideration. 



cit. 





