hill's and gosses accounts. 713 



Feet. Inches. 



Breadth of head across ears, measured horizoutally 7 



Length of head 9 



Breadth of nose 4^ 



Length of tail 3 



" ' The Kays frequented by tbese Seals are situated at about 

 a degree south from this Ishind, and form portions of an exten- 

 sive and dangerous line of rocks on a shoal about 100 miles 

 long, the two extremities of soundings touching nearly the 77th 

 and 79th meridians of W. longitude. These banks rise pre- 

 cipitously from the deep ocean, with reefs formed, like the usual 

 rocks in these seas, of coral, with an accumulation of shells 

 and calcareous sand. The depth of water varies from 7 to 17 

 fathoms. A scanty vegetation covers the principal group of 

 islands, which are what are iiroperly called the Pedro Kays. 

 The detached islets about 90 miles apart, known as the Port- 

 land and Eattlesnake Eocks, are nearly the eastern and west- 

 ern extremities of the bank. This shoal has always been vis- 

 ited as an excellent and inexhaustible fishing ground; and, 

 probably from the variety and abundance of its aquatic ani- 

 mals and marine productions, it received from the Spaniards 

 the name of Vivero, a word equally designating a warren or 

 fish-pond. The principal supply of turtles for the Kingston 

 Market is derived from these shoals, and the rocks are numer- 

 ously tenanted by sea-birds.' 



"In the spring of 181C George Wilkie, Esq., paid a visit to 

 these Kays and succeeded in obtaining a larger specimen of the 

 Seal. Some notes with which he kindly furnished me, through 

 the medium of Mr. Hill, of the peculiarities of the different 

 islets, depict natural difficulties in the access to Seal Kay, suffi- 

 cient to account for the meagreness of the information about 

 Seals, possessed by the host of egg-gatherers, who annuallj^ 

 resort to those rocks and shoals. Seal Kay lies about three 

 miles to leeward of the principal group. It is about two acres 

 in extent, and rises to twenty feet in height, but is entirely 

 destitute of all terrestrial vegetation. Address, in landing, 

 requires to be combined with strength, hardihood, and perse- 

 verance; and frequently before a footing can be obtained, tlie 

 Seals, the objects of attraction, have escaped to the waters, and 

 continue to avoid the shore as long as intruders remain upon 

 the island. ' When Mr. Wilkie's party first landed in their late 

 visit, they surprised some five Seals on shore. They immedi- 

 ately succeeded in heading a "Bull," or Male Seal, both big 



