40 



i 



of structure and their susceptibility of domestication. It is exactly 

 analogous to the distinction between the crania of baboons and those of 

 the higher groups of quadrumanous animals." 



In colour the very young female is of a dull yellowish- white, which 

 in a month or six weeks becomes variously blotched with grey ; as the 

 animal advances in age, these blotches almost disappear on the upper 

 part of the body, but they remain very distinct on the lower part and 

 on the breast. From a peculiarity in the hair of the adult, it being con- 

 siderably recurved, and as if its upper surface were scraped flat with a 

 knife, the animal, when dry, and with its head turned towards the 

 spectator, appears of a uniform silver grey, whilst viewed in the opposite 

 direction it appears altogether of a sooty brown colour, the spots or 

 blotches being only visible on a side view. The young male has long 

 yellowish hair, slightly tinged with brownish-black along the back. 



The grey seal will sometimes attain a length of twelve feet, and a 

 weight of 650 Ibs., but such large specimens are seldom encountered. 

 Nilsson states that in the Baltic it is a solitary animal, but on the 

 coasts of Ireland, where it is still numerous, and on those of Scotland, 

 this species is unquestionably gregarious, associating in small families of 

 from ten to fourteen members. 



Genus STENOBHYNCHtrs, 1 F. Cuvier. 

 Incisors &, canine, n, molars, ^ = 32. 



Incisors conical, the outer upper ones large, resembling canines, one 

 species excepted ; molars distinctly trilobate ; anterior one in each 

 ramus single-rooted ; the others with two roots ; muzzle simple, hairy 

 between and above the nostrils ; whiskers small, wavy, tapering ; claws 

 of fore feet small, of hind feet obsolete, or nearly so. 



LEPTONTX, 2 Blainville. The Sea Leopard. 



Synonyms Phoca leptonyx, Blainville. 



Stenorhynohus leptonyx, F. Cuvier ; Gray, B. M. C. 1866, 



p. 16. 

 The small-nailed Seal (?), Jardine, Nat. Libry., p. 180, 



pi. 11. 

 The Leopard Seal (?), Jardine, Nat. Libr., p. 183, pi. 12. 



There are two stuffed specimens of this species in the Australian 

 Museum ; one, recently obtained, is admirably set up, the various 

 admeasurements being taken from the animal when living, the other 

 but indifferently. These afford another example to the many, that 

 colour, and variations of marking, when considered alone, are but 

 unreliable evidence in distinguishing species, for on these points they 

 differ considerably. Their skulls, however, allowing for those minor 



1 <rrcv6s t narrow, and fivyx 05 ' the beak. 



2 \firr6s, slender, and yyu, the nail. 



