1 9 o 2.] Allen, North Pacific Phocida. 49 I 



This very distinct species is represented by four skulls from 

 Bering Island, one of which is labeled male, but the sex of the 

 others is not designated. Three of the skulls are very old and 

 massive, especially the one marked male, and the other is very 

 young, probably a yearling. In addition to these four skulls 

 there are six skins, five of which have skulls, representing 

 four 'young adults' (two males and two females), a fcetal 

 specimen (without skull), and a young specimen, probably a 

 month to six weeks old. The skins, with their skulls, have 

 lain for eighteen years in a vat of preservative fluid (Horna- 

 day solution) ; the skins on being removed from ' pickle ' and 

 prepared for examination are in fair condition, though pos- 

 sibly the ground color is a little discolored from staining ; the 

 skulls, however, have greatly deteriorated from the action of 

 the solution, the bones having become softened from loss of 

 calcareous matter, and the teeth have mostly crumbled off 

 down to the alveoli. There is enough left of them to show 

 their manner of insertion, and two of the skulls are suscep- 

 tible of measurement as regards their general proportions; 

 the other three are imperfect, only the rostral portion and the 

 lower jaws being preserved. The two young specimens are 

 from Bering Island, the adults from localities on the neigh- 

 boring coast of Kamschatka, one each being from Petro- 

 paulski, Staritshof Island, and Avatcha and Tchipunski 

 Bays. They were all collected by Dr. Leonhard Stejneger in 

 1883, and of the specimens represented by skins, detailed 

 measurements were taken by him from the fresh specimens, 

 and form a part of the material of the present investigation. 

 It therefore gives me great pleasure to connect his name with 

 this fine large seal, as a slight recognition of his invaluable 

 contributions to the natural history of the Commander Islands 

 and neighboring regions. 



9. Phoca richardii Gray. 

 PACIFIC HARBOR SEAL. 



Halicyon richardii GRAY, P. Z. S. 1864, 28, fig. i, skull (Vancouver 

 Island); Cat. Seals and Whales, 1866, 30, fig. 9; Hand-list Seals and 

 Whales, 1874, 4. GILL, Proc. Essex Inst., V, 1866, 13 (ex Gray). 



