204 CARNIVORA. 



The Seals on the islets near Algoa Bay are killed with 

 clubs, the slaughter usually taking place on the slanting 

 ground by which the animals arrive and leave these 

 islands. A catch of 200 to 300 Seals is considered a good 

 night's work. The old bulls sometimes fiercely attack 

 the Sealers' boat. {Field, 1887, p. 649.) 



NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTEALIAN FUR SEAL. 

 ArctoccpJialiis forsteri. 



This Seal is one of the less abundant species of this 

 group, and is found in New Zealand and the southern 

 parts of Australia. 



The colour of the hair in the males is usually dark 

 grizzly, the belly being dark brown. The female is 

 yellow or light brown, with a brown belly. The whiskers 

 are black, with the exception of those on the top of the 

 mouth, which are white. The general colour of the 

 under fur is red, and brown near the flippers. The 

 under fur is abundant, except sometimes on the sides. 



The fur of this animal is most beautifully curled, and 

 is extremely well adapted for use in the undyed state. 



This species seems also to be decreasing. It was very 

 abundant in former times, but the quantity of skins now 

 imported is unimportant. During the years 1814 and 

 1815 as many as 400,000 skins were imported from 

 these parts. The skins are usually shipped from 

 Adelaide. 



The following localities were formerly frequented by 

 these Seals : — The Seal Rocks near Port Stephens, New 

 South Wales, the small Seal Islands near Port Albert, 



