94 Mr, R. Hamilton on the Fur Seal of Commerce. 



seal was not then knoM'n. But influenced by only a becoming 

 deference to these original and respectable, though not quite 

 modern authorities, we think it may be held that these cha- 

 racters thus assigned to their specimens are not equivocal. 

 Daubenton states that he had seen two specimens of the same 

 species, and the other witnesses had examined one individual. 

 The animal they describe differs remarkably from all the pre- 

 viously described seals, and from nearly all that have been 

 subsequently examined ; more especially in having the fore 

 paws situated midway between the snout and the tail ; it is 

 also an otary, according to the two last witnesses, and more- 

 over it possesses the very singular flippers, apparently pecu- 

 liar to this tribe of animals. Hence, and from other consider- 

 ations on which it is unnecessary to enlarge, we conclude that 

 this longicollis, like the Falklandica, may without hesitation 

 be considered identical with the fur seal of commerce. 



Although upon the grounds we have stated we think little 

 doubt can remain regarding the animal which forms the true 

 fur seal of commerce, yet we are persuaded there is still room 

 for fresh and additional inquiry. 



We conclude our observations for the present with the fol- 

 lowing quotation from Lesson. " The Americans," he says, 

 "regard many seals as, fur seals which are unknown to natu- 

 ralists, and wholly distinct from each other. Thus, they state 

 that the fur seal of Patagonia has a pump behind its head ; 

 that that of California is of very large dimensions ; that the up- 

 land seal, or that which retreats far from the shore, is small and 

 exclusively inhabits the Macquarrie islands and Pennanti- 

 podes ; and finally that the fur seal of the south of New Zea- 

 land has other and distinctive characters*." Of the seals here 

 alluded to, we have no evidence whether they are to be regard- 

 ed as fur seals in the more limited sense insisted upon in these 

 pages, and whose peculiar mode of preparation is difficult, and 

 has sometimes been lost sight of; or are fur skins in the more 

 popular acceptation of the term as bear and foxes skins are 

 usually denominated furs. The truth however may be, that 

 many seals would produce in high perfection that article which 

 is now so much desiderated, and yields so rich a return. In 

 * Diet Class, des Scien. Nat. torn. xiii. p. 41 1. 



