792 



MR. A. H. GARROD ON PHOCA VITULINA. [NoV. 20, 



still considerable uncertainty. That it is not allied to the New- 

 World type is evident from its vomer not extending downwards to 

 join the osseous palate posteriorly. That it is not Cervuline is 



Brain of Hydropotes inermis (still-bom). 



equally certain on account of its tarsal cuneiform bones being free 

 from the naviculo-cuboids. Its large hepatic Spigelian lobe favours 

 the view suggested by Sir Victor Brooke^ that it is most closely allied 

 to the Rusine Deer. 



7. Note on the possible Cause of Death in a young Seal. By 



A. H. Garrod, M.A., F.R.S., Prosector to the Society. 



[Eeceived October 17;, 1877.] 



On October 1, 1877, Mr. G. Mellin presented to the Society a 

 female Common Seal {Phoca vitulina), which died on the 9th of the 

 same month. He obtained it from the Scilly Islands on September 

 27th, when it had attached to it the rudiments of the umbilical cord, 

 which dropped off on the 30th, three days later. It must therefore 

 have been born only a few days. "When in the Society's Gardens 

 it sucked milk freely from a baby-feeding bottle, and exhibited no 

 pathological symptoms. As it did not take kiudly to the water, it 

 remained almost entirely on land. 



On post-mortem examination it was found to be three feet two 

 inches in length from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, along 

 the back. The lungs were of a dark red colour, collapsed, containing 

 scarcely any air, and scarcely floating in water, otherwise also re- 

 sembling those of a suffocated new-born child. The kidneys were 



' P. Z. S. 1872, p. 525. 



