GEOGEAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 681 



As von Sclirenck figured only the external characters, we 

 have still to regret the absence of illustrations of the skull and 

 dentition. 



Gray, in 18GG,* referred, without question, Shaw's PJiocafas- 

 ciata to Fhoca fcetida, and also, doubtfully, the Phoca equestris 

 of both Pallas and von Schrenck a rather strange proceed- 

 ing, in view of von Schrenck's excellent description of the 

 species and striking figure. In 1871,t however, he raised it to 

 the rank of a species, under the name ''' PagopMlusl equestris^^, 

 referring to it, however, Eadde's Phoca annellata, an entirely 

 different animal. 



The next reference to the species I am able to find is Dr. 

 Gill's account,! already cited, in which he mentions two skins 

 in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, collected by 

 Mr. Dall at Cape Eomanzoff, cites von Schrenck's account of 

 its dental and other characters, and proposes for it the generic 

 name HistriopJioca. 



Captain Scammon's account of the species, published in 

 1874, completes, so far as known to me, the written history of 

 the species. Captain Scammon gives a figure of the animal, 

 apiiarently copied from von Schrenck's. 



Geographical Distribution. According to Pallas, the 

 present species occurs around the Kurile Islands and in the 

 Ochots Sea. Von Schrenck states that Hr. Wosnessenski ob- 

 tained specimens that were killed on the eastern coast of 

 Kamtschatka, and that he himself saw skins of examples killed 

 on the southern coast of the Ochots Sea, where, however, the 

 species seems to be of rare occurrence. He further states that 

 it occurs also in the Gulf of Tartary, between the island of 

 Saghalien and the mainland, but apparently not to the south- 

 ward of that island, the southern point of which (in latitude 

 46 ^.) he believes to be the southern limit of its distribution. 

 Mr. Dall secured specimens taken at Cape Eomanzoff. Captain 

 Scammon states, "It is found upon the coast of Alaska, bor- 

 dering on Behring Sea, and the natives of Ounalaska recog- 

 nize it as an occasional visitor to the Aleutian Islands 



The Eussian traders, who formerly visited Cape Eomanzoff, 



*Cat. Seals and Wliales, p. 23. 

 tSuppl. Cat. Seals and Whales, p. 2. 

 tAmer. Nat., vol. vii, 1873, pp. 178, 179. 

 Marine Mam., 1874, p. 140, pi. xxi. 



