218 



NATURAL HISTORT. 



Otaria, though incidentally allusion will be made to such forms as are indicative of generic 

 distinction. 



We have in passing mentioned two kinds, namely, Fur and Hair Seals, and we have also stated 

 that these Eared Seals are not confined to one hemisphere, but equally inhabit northern and southern 

 regions. Taking these facts into account we submit the following table as a kind of provisional 

 arrangement for the reader, that he may carry away a notion of what may be termed a combination 

 of commercial and geographical divisions. 



Southern. 



Northern. > (-THE FALKLAND ISLAND FUR SEAL. 



THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL. I FUR SEALS 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN, OR CAPE FUR SEAL. 

 THE NEW ZEALAND FUR SEAL. 

 THK ASH-COLOURED OTARY. 



STELLER'S SEA LION. 

 GILLIESPIE'S HAIR SEAL. 



HAIR SEALS. 



< HOOKER'S SEA BEAR. 



\ WHITE-NECKED OTARY. 



I THE PATAGONIAN SEA LION. 



Thus eliminating doubtlul forms, or such as naturalists are not unanimous upon, there are, so to 

 say, some ten well-marked species of Otaries, whereof five belong to the so-called Fur, and five to the 

 so-called Hair Seals. In the northern region there are but three peculiar to the West American coasts, 

 &c., whereas seven inhabit the southern region. These latter range over a wide area, from warmer 

 latitudes to the frigid zone. But it is very remarkable that in the whole of the Northern Atlantic 

 none of the Sea Lions are now to be found. It is, however, noteworthy that in the neighbourhood 

 of Antwerp, Professor P. J. Yan Beneden has described some few fragmentary remains of a Seal allied 

 to Otaria, which he has named Mesotaria ambigua. These fossil bones, along with numerous other 

 remains of Pinnipedia and Cetacea, have been dug out of the upper Tertiary strata of Flanders. 



As regards the precise geographical distribution, this will be referred to in connection with the 

 species themselves. The absolute distinction between Hair and Fur Seals is one rather of degree than of 

 kind, for as we have before hinted, all the family possess, at least in their early condition, evidence of 

 under-fur, sparse or otherwise. But undoubtedly as age advances in some kinds it is very abundant, 

 in others quite the reverse. Hence this character, though so apparent in some cases, is not one 

 thoroughly to be relied on so far as zoological divisions are concerned, though very considerable stress 

 has been laid upon it by some writers. So far as the skin is looked on as a mercantile commodity 

 it unquestionably is a most useful mode of division, but a classification founded thereon must be taken 

 with the accustomed " grain of salt." 



If we look at a lady's Seal-skin jacket, we at once observe its rich brown colour, and the velvety 

 softness and denseness of the fine hairs composing it. If this be compared with the coarse, hard, or 

 salted dry Seal-skin as imported, or, still better, with the coat of the living Fur Seals, one is struck with 

 the vast difference between them, and wonders how the coarse or oily-looking, close-pressed hair of the 

 live animal can ever be transformed into the rich and costly garment above spoken of. Passing our 

 finger among the hairs of the Cat or Dog, we may notice short fine hairs at the roots of the longer, coarser, 

 general covering of the animal. This is the so-called under-fur. It equally obtains in most of the land 



as in the aquatic Carnivora. But in the greater number of these 

 animals the short hairs are so few and often fine as to be compara- 

 tively speaking lost sight of among what to our eyes constitutes 

 the coat. The remarkable feature, then, in the Fur Seals is its 

 abundance and density. The operation which the skin under- 

 goes to bring out, so to say, the fur may be briefly described 

 as follows : The skin, after being washed rid of grease, <fec., is 

 laid flat on the stretch, flesh side up. A flat knife is then 

 passed across the flesh substance, thinning it to a very con- 

 siderable extent. In doing this the blade severs the roots of 

 the long strong hairs which penetrate the skin deeper than 

 does the soft delicate under-fur. The rough hairs are then got rid of, while the fur retains its hold. A 

 variety of subsidiary manipulations, in which the pelt is softened and preserved, are next gone throug 



Diagram of a Vertical Section oi the Fkin of the Fur 

 Seal, showine how (A) the courser Hairs penetrate 

 quite through (g) the Skin, while (/) the Fur has 

 Roots comparatively superficial. (After Murie.) 



