Feoruary 14, 1854. 
Dr. Gray, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Description or a New Genus anv Species or SEAL 
(HELIOPHOCA ATLANTICA), FROM MADETRA. 
By J. E. Gray, Px.D., F.R.S., V.P.Z.S. 
Some months ago Mr. MacAndrew most kindly procured for me the 
skin of a Seal from the island of Madeira. A careful examination 
of it convinced me that it was a new species, most allied to Phoca 
barbata of the North Sea, but yet quite distinct from it. Mr. Mac- 
Andrew, after considerable trouble, at length obtained for me another 
skin of an older animal, with its skull, which proves that it is not 
only a new species, but presents such a combination of characters 
as entitle it to be considered the type of a new genus. It is the 
only species of Seal which I believe has yet been found so near the 
tropics on the African coast. 
Both the specimens in the Museum came from the same cave in 
the Deserta Grande Island ; the larger skin is full-grown, the other 
younger. Knight, in his ‘Once on a Time,’ speaks of the seals as 
common near Funchal; he observes, “A multitude of seals rush out 
from that hollow with a sudden cry, and plunge into the waves; that 
point shall be Camara das Lobos, the cave of seals.”’ (i. p. 60.) 
Mr. MacAndrew observes, that there is an island near the Canaries 
called Isle Lobos, on account of the number of seals formerly found 
there. It is very difficult of access, and Mr. MacAndrew could not 
hear of any existing there now, or of any remains of them. 
The following are the characters of the genus :— 
HELIOPHOCA. 
Muzzle rather elongate, broad, hairy, with a slight groove between 
the nostrils ; whiskers small, quite smooth, flat, tapering. Fore-feet 
short ; fingers gradually shorter to the inner one; claws 5, flat, 
truncate. Hind-feet hairy between the toes ; elaws very small ; hair 
short, adpressed, with very little or no under fur. Skull depressed ; 
nose rather depressed, rather elongate, longer than the length of the 
zygomatic arch ; palate angularly notched behind. Cutting teeth 4 
large, notched within, the middle upper much smaller, placed be- 
hind the intermediate ones. Canines, large, conical, sharp-edged. 
Grinders >=, large, crowded, placed obliquely with regard to the 
central palatine line; crown large, conical, with several small conic 
rhombic tubercles. Lower jaw angulated in front below with diverg- 
ing branches, the lower edge of the branches rounded, simple. 
The feet, palate, and teeth resemble those of the genus Callo- 
