310 THE PEDRO SHOAL. 



cimistances, attendant on lactation. The occipital 

 aperture, which remains for a long time unossified 

 in this ti'ibe of animals, being still open, though 

 reduced to a very small orifice, — this Seal may be 

 considered to have been only just full grown. The 

 unworn sharpness of the teeth indicated the same 

 fact. 



" The measurements of this specimen were as 

 follows : — 



ft. in. 



Total length, along the back, from snout to tip of tail - 4 2 



From snout to insertion of fore paw - - -16 



From insertion of fore paw to hind paw - - 2 10 



Circumference of body near fore paws - - - 3 2 



Circumference at hind paws - - - -16 



Breadth of back at fore paws - - - - 1 



From one fore paw to the other, extended - - 2 6 

 Length of fore paw 10 in. Of hind paw 11 in. 



Breadth of head across ears, measured horizontally - 7 

 Length of head 9 in. Breadth of nose 4^ in. 

 Length of tail 3 in. 



*' The Kays frequented by these Seals are situated 

 at about a degree south from this Island, and form 

 portions of an extensive and dangerous line of rocks 

 on a shoal about 100 miles long, the two extremities 

 of soundings touching nearly the 77th and 79th 

 meridians of W. longitude. These banks rise pre- 

 cipitously from the deep ocean, with reefs formed, 

 like the usual rocks in these seas, of coral, with 

 an accumulation of shells and calcareous sand. The 

 depth of water varies from 7 to 17 fathoms. A scan- 

 ty vegetation covers the principal group of islands, 

 v/hich are what are properly called the Pedro Kays. 



