Dr. Hector on New-Zealand Eared Seals. 29 



out of above a dozen, the remainder of which have been long 

 since distributed, which do not correspond with the ordinary- 

 Algerian or British specimens, and which are decidedly larger 

 than Ph. trochilus. They correspond in all proportions and 

 specific characters, except that the second primary is relatively 

 shorter than in P. trochilus^ and is only barely the length of 

 the sixth, which it always exceeds in the common species. 

 This is evidently the bird mistaken by Temminck (Man. 

 d'Orn. iii. p. 150) for the Sylvia icterina of Vieillot, a bird 

 with a depressed bill, belonging to * the Hippolais group. 

 This bird, besides its larger size, has proportionally a much 

 stronger and larger bill than the willow-wren. As Temminck's 

 name cannot stand, I propose to designate it 



Phyllopneibste major. 



Long. tot. 5'3, al. 2'7, caud. 2"3, tarsi '75, rostr. a rict. '5. 

 Hah. Southern Mediterranean coasts. 



I am still prepared to acquiesce in its rejection, but think it 

 well to notice it, as being undoubtedly the bird intended by 

 Temminck when he described S. icterina. 



III. — Notes on New-Zealand Eared Seals. 

 By Dr. Hector, F.R.S.&c. 



On the 13th of February last, during the visit of H.M.S. 

 ' Clio ' to Milford Sound, on the west coast of the South Island 

 of New Zealand, three seals were shot by H.E. Sir George 

 Bowen, which proved to be the Eared Seal or Fur-Seal 

 of New Zealand, as it is termed by the traders *. They 

 were shot from a boat while basking on ledges of rock ; 

 and although several others were mortally wounded, their 

 great activity enabled them to scramble into deep water, so 

 that only three were secured. I took the following measure- 

 ments of the two largest, which were male and female adults. 

 Both had the same form, colour, and general appearance, the 

 male being the largest in every respect except the length of 

 the hind flippers and tail, which were of slightly greater 

 proportional dimensions in the female. The male weighed 

 258 lbs., and the female 208 lbs. 



In both the snout was obliquely truncate, the upper surface 

 being prolonged so as to overhang the mouth. Nostrils ver- 

 tical elongated slits ; nose jet-black ; a few stout bristles on 



* Only previously known as Phoca ursina of J. R. Forster, who gives a 

 figure and account of it in Cook's 'Voyage,' and Buffon's 'Histoire 

 Naturelle.' — J. E. Gbay. 



