i6 



PLATE IX. THE ROSS SEAL. 



FIG. 1. From a photograph by R. W. SKELTON (Sk. 31, ^-plate), Jan. 7, 1902; 

 taken on board the ' Discovery ' in the pack-ice of Ross Sea. 



FIG. 2. From a photograph by R. W. SKELTON (Sk. 29, - plate), Jan. 7, 1902; 

 taken on board the ' Discovery ' in the pack-ice of Ross Sea. 



This, the least abundant of the five species of Seals which have been taken 

 in the Antarctic, was discovered in 1842 by Sir James Ross. It lives mainly 

 upon Cephalopods, and in dealing with them finds little or no use for the 

 post-canine teeth, which are consequently ill-developed and variable in number, 

 often quite loose, and occasionally absent altogether. Not so the canines and 

 incisors, which have developed into needle-pointed recurved hooks of obvious 

 usefulness. 



The Seal is grey or brownish-grey above, lighter beneath, and streaked 

 indistinctly with still paler lines upon the neck and sides. 



Nothing is known of its breeding habits, and it has seldom been seen except 

 in the open ice-pack. When full grown, it may have a length of 11 feet. 



See Nat. Hist. Rep., vol. ii., Mamm., pp. 41-50. 



