92 Mr. R. Hamilton on the Fur Seal of Commerce. 



Falkland Island^s ; but then these dreary regions are^, or we 

 must rather say were, rife with many species of seals, and the 

 fur seal has long been exterminated from them: besides he gives 

 no hint of its possessing a valuable fur. The otary which 

 Lesson and Garnat captured at a later period among the Falk- 

 land Islands, — the Otaria Molossina of the ' Zoologie de la Co- 

 quille,^ is quite a different animal from this Falklandica. The 

 French zoologists, who have laboured most in this department, 

 from not being interested in the trade, seem never to have re- 

 ceived any specimens or drawings of this seal ; hence these 

 naturalists with all their acumen could have nothing but a 

 partial and imperfect conception of this important species. 

 But it is quite a different matter with a man living in the 

 midst of these animals ; to him a hint or two is sufficient to 

 certify its characters and establish its identity. So we believe 

 it was with Weddell ; and so will it be with any one who ac- 

 quires clear and specific notions of the form and appearance of 

 this species, and its most nearly allied congeners. 



Still greater obscurity has prevailed, and with less apology, 

 regarding the longicolUs. This seal is enumerated as a species 

 distinct from the preceding by Pennant and Shaw; and has been 

 arranged by Messrs. Desmarest,Fr.Cuvier, and Lesson among 

 the earless seals or true Phocce ; whilst Baron Cuvier with his 

 wonted acumen refers it rather to the Otaria; whilst at the same 

 time he exclaims, "Que faire de cette mauvaise peau du Musee 

 de la Societe Royal, gravee par Parsons, nommee par Pennant 

 Phoca longicolUs^}" In turning to what Parsons denomi- 

 nates Dr. Grew's " excellent book of Rarities" of the Royal 

 Society, which was published in the year 1694, we find that 

 at that date the Museum contained three specimens of seals. 

 Two of these he refers to the species vitulina, or common seal ; 

 and of the third he remarks, " I find him nowhere distinctly 

 mentioned ; he is much slenderer than any of the former ; but 

 that wherein he principally differs is the length of his neck ; 

 for from his nose to his fore feet, and from thence to his tail, 

 are the same measure : as also, that instead of fore feet he has 

 rather fins, not having any claws thereon, as have the other 

 kinds t." Dr. Parsons, who entertained the Royal Society with 



* Loc. cit. t Grew's Catalogue of Rarities, &c. Loud. 1 G94, p. 95. 



