192 SURGEON F. DAY ON NEW FISHES FROM MADRAS, [MaV. 12, 



3. The Fur-Seal*. (^Otaria falklandica.) 



This is one of the Fur-Seals of commerce, of which I fancy there 

 are many varieties. It is not uncommon in the Falkland Islands, but, 

 as it is much sought after on account of the value of its skin, only 

 frequents places difficult of access. A favourite locality is the Vo- 

 lunteer Rocks, at the northern entrance to Berkeley Sound, these 

 rocks, owing to the heavy swell, being inaccessible, except in fine 

 weather and after many days of calm. I once procured a specimen 

 from this place, but it was only half-grown. Others full-grown were 

 killed at the same time ; and, on measuring one of the latter, the 

 skin appeared to be about the same size as that of the common 

 English Seal. The largest skin I have ever seen I do not think 

 measured more than 4 feet in length, perhaps hardly as much. The 

 hair differs in colour, being sometimes grey, and at other times of a 

 brownish tint ; that of the young is of a dark or brown colour. In 

 speaking of the hair of this Seal, which gives the colour of the skin, 

 it must be understood that the fur lies underneath, and the coarse 

 hair is removed in the process of preparing the skins for the various 

 purposes for which they are now used, such as ladies' cloaks, &c. 

 The skin and skull of my half-grown specimen are now in the Bri- 

 tish Museum. 



4. The SEA-LEOPARD-f. (Stenorhynckus leptonyx.) 



This Seal is so scarce in the Falkland Islands that I have little to 

 say in reference to it. I once saw a specimen which had been washed 

 ashore dead near Port Louis ; and afterwards the sealers brought 

 me a skin, but, as they had neglected to preserve the flippers, it was 

 of no use as a specimen. The spots on the skin render it easily 

 distinguishable from other species. 



3. On some New Fishes from Madras. 

 By Surgeon Francis Day, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



The following fishes have either been personally collected in the 

 Madras, Coimbatore, and Kurnool collectorates, or received from 



» On accompanying Capt. Abbott to the British Museum in order to identify 

 his specimen of this animal, we found it labelled Otaria jubata, as Dr. Gray has 

 already mentioned (Ann. Nat. Hist. Feb. 1868, p. 104), having been supposed to 

 be the young of the same animal of which he had sent the adult ! Dr. Gray has 

 now identified this specimen, and, I believe, correctly, with his Euotaria nigreg. 

 cms {I. c. p. 106). I am, however, inclined to doubt whether there is really more 

 than one species of Fur-Seal in the Falkland Islands, which should be called 

 Otaria falklandica, being the Phoca falklandica of Shaw (from Pennant). I do 

 not deny that Dr. Gray's Arctocephalus falklandicus (1. c. p. 103) may be dif- 

 ferent from his Euotaria nigrescens ; but there may have been some error in the 

 locality of his specimen. — F. L. S. 



t A fine skull of this Seal, now in the Museum of the Royal College of Sur- 

 geons, was presented bv the Directors of the Falkland-Island Corporation, having 

 been obtained in the Falklands, and sent to England by their Manager at Port 

 Stanley.— P. L. S. 



