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PLATE LXXXVIII. THE WEDDELL SEAL. 



FIG. 1. A young Weddell Seal in its first year. From a photograph by Mr FORD 

 (Fo. 96, ^-plate) ; taken in M'Murdo Sound, Oct. 19, 1902. 



FIG. 2. An adult female. From a photograph by R. W. SKELTON (Sk. 224, 

 i-plate) ; taken in M'Murdo Sound, Nov. 27, 1902. 



After the woolly hair in which it is born is shed, during the latter half of 

 the first month of its life, the young Weddell Seal at once assumes the handsomely 

 marked skin of the adult, with shades of black, silver-grey, and white, in rich 

 contrast and in very variable proportions. 



Its method of progression upon ice is slow and clumsy. It consists of a succes- 

 sion of efforts to hitch forward the hinder half of the body and to shoot forward the 

 head and shoulders. The result is a gait somewhat resembling that of a looper 

 caterpillar. The limbs are not used for progression either on ice or in water, but 

 are employed chiefly for scratching various parts of the irritable body, while the 

 animal lies upon the ice, and for directing the animal's course when it enters 

 the water. 



