200 CARNIVORA. 



CAPE HOEN OR LOBOS ISLAND FUE SEAL. 



Arctoccphahis falldandicns. 



The habitat of this Seal extends from the Gulf of Tres 

 Montes (N. of Wellington Island), and from perhaps 

 even higher, to the Straits of Magellan. It is very 

 abmidant on the Cordova Peninsula (Straits of Magel- 

 lan) ; also on the Lobos Islands, at the mouth of the 

 Eio de la Plata, and the Falkland Islands. 



The Cape Horn Fur Seal is of a yellowish, greenish- 

 brown colour, with brown sides of a darker hue ; the 

 ears are mostl,y of a light speckled-brown. The bulls 

 are of a lighter brown, having in many cases a yellow 

 mane ; they attain 8 feet in length, and fight with great 

 stubbornness, tearing the skin off each other's cheeks 

 and heads. Every sort of animal is taken, both sexes 

 and all ages being slaughtered indiscriminately. 



Most of the American vessels set out from Sandy 

 Point, and the schooners fish up and down the Straits. 

 A few Chilian vessels are also fitted out. Captain 

 Temple says : — " The fishing commences about the 

 month of July, and lasts until February of the follow- 

 ing year, that is to say, about six months out of the 

 twelve. It is very rarely that the female has more than 

 one pup, and the time of gestation is about ten months. 

 The pupping season is from October to March." 



The under fur of this Seal is long compared with 

 other species. The skins are easy to work, and, like the 

 South Shetland, take the dye well and with great 

 brilliancy. The number of the catch is very varied, 

 sometimes amounting to many thousands, and some- 

 times only a few hundreds. 



