528 DR. J. MURIE ON THE ANATOMY OF THE SEA-LION. 
Mr. Lecomte (the original possessor), and have questioned him regarding the statement 
of Burmeister, namely that two live specimens of Otaria falklandica had been exhibited 
at Buenos Ayres. ‘These, however, as Dr. Gray has suggested, were not of that species, 
but O. jubata—in fact the identical specimens obtained by Lecomte, one of which, that 
furnishing this memoir, was afterwards brought to this country. ‘This animal was 
exhibited at the Cremorne Gardens for a short interval, ultimately being purchased by 
this Society. It lived in the Society’s Gardens from the 25th January 1866 till the 
14th February 1867, when it died from natural causes (as recorded in the P. Z. S. 1867, 
p. 248). 
IJ. Exrernan CHARACTERS AND SUBCUTANEOUS Parts. 
1. Colour.—Regarding this, it is essential to remark that during life the hue changes 
according as the animal is seen in a wet or dry condition. After emergence from the 
water it presents a more or less uniform burnt-umber tint, indeed almost approaching 
to a black. When the coat is dry the colour very sensibly lightens and a greater variety 
of shade is revealed. The nape of the neck then appears of a lightish yellow-brown, 
and a streak of the same shade runs along the forehead towards the nose. The cheeks, 
to the ear, are of a dark nut-brown. The abdomen generally has more of a reddish 
brown or tawny cast. Excepting the extremities, which towards their phalangeal ends 
and on the soles are dirty blackish, the remainder of the body and limbs are of a rich 
brown". 
2. Configuration and Measurements of the Body.—When a series of proportional mea- 
surements are taken of the bodies of some animals, such as fish, many reptiles, and a 
few mammals (Armadillos, for example), these give not only a clue to the relation of 
parts, but in some respects supply substantial data of configuration. In other mam- 
malians it is more difficult to institute measurements, either with accuracy or satisfac- 
tion, unless where the frame is firm and rigid, or there are well-defined points mapping 
out certain regions. 
During life the Sea-lion is capable of and comports itself in a great variety of 
striking attitudes. In each of these the apparent proportions of the body, head, and 
neck alter in a remarkable manner. At one moment the entire body presents a long, 
cylindrical, tapering cone ; in another the body seems foreshortened and the head and 
neck thrust out turtle-fashion to a length as astonishing as often unexpected to any 
visitor who may chance to be near; at other times the chest and abdomen become 
Ann. Nat. Hist. 1866, xviii. p. 99; and Dr. J. E. Gray’s ‘Observations on Sea-bears (Otariade), and 
especially on the Fur-Seals and Hair-Seals of the Falkland Islands and Southern America,” Ann. Nat. Hist. 
February 1868 (4th series, vol. i. No. 2, p. 108), &e. 
1 The above description applies solely to the male specimen in question. I have shown (P. Z. 8. 1869) that 
in the juvenile, half-grown, and fully adult animals material changes of coloration ensue—and also that the 
females most markedly differ, their hue being very considerably lighter and greyer, as evidenced by the indi- 
vidual at present exhibited in the Society’s gardens. 
