400 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Of these it will be seen that four, namely, P. vitulina, 

 P. grcenlandica, P.foctida, and E. barbatus, range from the North 

 Pacific across the Arctic into the North Atlantic. 



One, viz., H.fasciata, has its habitat where the North Pacific 

 and Arctic join. 



Two, viz., H. f/rypus and C. cristata, range down from the 

 Arctic Ocean north of the Atlantic, into the latter ocean. 



One, Monaclms, is certainly found in the Mediterranean 

 and tropical Atlantic, although the Seal of the West Indies is 

 supposed to be of a distinct species. (See Zool. 1887, p. 191.) 



One, Macrorhinus, is found in the tropical Pacific, coasts of 

 Lower California and Mexico, and in the South Pacific and South 

 Indian, and Antarctic Oceans ; whilst four species of the genus 

 Leptonyx are found in the Antarctic Ocean and the southern 

 parts of the oceans bordering thereon. 



One great distinguishing feature between the true Seals and 

 the Eared Seals is evident. The true Seals and the Walrus are 

 more capable of bearing cold, and as none of the Ot iriidee reach 

 above Behring Straits, the Seals diminish in species and 

 numbers as they approach the Equator. It is also noticeable 

 that the Eared Seals are not found in the Atlantic north of the 

 Cape of Good Hope ; nor are there any Pinnipeds in the North 

 Indian Ocean. 



I will now give a few extracts from Mr. Allen's work on the 

 life-histories and manner of hunting some of these animals, 

 beginning with the Otariidee. The most interesting account, 

 perhaps, is derived from the culture of the Northern Eur Seal, 

 Callorhinm, by the United States on the Prybilov Islands, — two 

 small islands near Behring Straits, which they received with 

 Alaska territory from Russia. These islands were leased to the 

 Alaska Commercial Company, with the right to take 100,000 

 skins annually, and of course it became a matter of pecuniary 

 importance to take these in their best season and value, so as to 

 keep up the stock on the island. The number of Fur Seals 

 present on St. Paul's Island, as estimated by Mr. Elliot in 1872, 

 was three millions, and on St. George's 163,000. 



A party of natives live on the islands to attend to the 

 interests of the Company, and collect the skins. At first, when 

 indiscriminate slaughter was allowed, the yearly take was reduced 

 to 7000 or 8000 in 1882 ; but by preserving them, and driving 



