28 



convex ; hairs of the whiskers very long, large, roundish, and slightly 

 waved ; similar hairs in tufts over each eye and on each cheek ; fore 

 feet with longish claws, the first one being the smallest ; hind feet with 

 the outer toes large, the three middle ones small, all of them without 

 nails ; eyes large and prominent. 



MACEOEHDfUS 1 ELEPHANTHOJS, 2 Molina. 



Synonyms PJioca elepJiantina, Molina. 



PJioca proboscidea, Peron, Cuvier, Hamilton. 



Macrorhinus prciboscideus, P. Cuvier, 1827. 



Mirownga proloscidea and Ansonii, Gray, 1827. 



Oystophora proboscidea, Nilsson, 1837. 



Morunga elephantina, Gray, B.M.C. S. & W., 1866, p. 38, 



Suppl. 1871, p. 4. 

 Miourounga. Australian Aboriginals. 



The sea elephants retain the semi- terrestrial habits of the eared seals, 

 although they differ so materially from them in the structure of the 

 posterior extremities, these becoming so confined within the integuments 

 of the body as to possess but little or no power of motion. 



This cramped condition of the hinder limbs, common to the whole of 

 the seal tribe, with the exception of the eared-seals and the walrus, is 

 in this species slightly mitigated by the thick and fitout form of the 

 pelvic bones, which permits a freer use of these members, and by the 

 greater expansion and stoutness of the shoulder-blades, which strengthen 

 the flippers, and render their assistance more effective ; so that a power 

 of locomotion on land is attained of an intermediate character between 

 that exhibited by the Otariadae and Phocidaa. 



The sea elephants were formerly found in great abundance inhabiting 

 many of the numerous islands lying between the thirtieth degree of 

 south latitude even to the verge of the antarctic circle, as Juan Eer- 

 >> nandez, Staten Island, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Tristan 

 d'Acunha, Kergeulen's Land, and other spots, where sandy beaches and 

 fresh-water swamps exist : a geographic range so vast, as to comprise 

 at least two-thirds of the whole area of that portion of the Southern 

 Seas comprised within the latitudinal belt above specified. 'Their 

 powers of locomotion, however, are so great, that frequent stragglers 

 have been captured on the coasts of Australia. 



In fact, it appears that this animal affords another illustration of the 

 extensive habitat originally enjoyed by certain species, such as the Sea 

 Lions and the Seals of Commerce of the North and the South, until 

 driven away by continuous persecution to seek the more restricted and 

 outlying homes adequate for their reduced numbers. 



1 naicpts, long, and piv, the nose. 

 3 of an elephant. 



