618 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VIII. No. 201. 



tain; station 2 was a few yards back from the 

 edge of the stream directly opposite the 

 large cavity in the talus; station 3 was at 

 the water's edge on the opposite side of the 

 stream from station 2, and station 4 was in 

 the cavity at the foot of the talus. At each 

 station the thermometers were placed on 

 the surface of the ground in positions where 

 they would be protected from all direct rays 

 of the sun, and so far as possible from any 

 influence of reflected heat. The conditions 

 at station 4 were somewhat exceptional, but 

 even here the thermometer was not placed 

 under ground, but on the surface of the 

 rocks beneath the overhanging roof of the 

 widely open cavity. The detailed results 

 of the readings are given the following table: 



these two stations were less than fifty feet 

 apart. 



On comparing the means of the readings 

 at stations 2 and 4 it is seen that the boreal 

 mammals lived in an atmosphere the mean 

 temperature of which, during the afternoon, 

 at nearly the hottest part of the summer, 

 was about 17° lower than that of the region 

 occupied by the upper austral fauna. 

 How this relationship might be altered by 

 including observations taken throughout 

 the day and night can only be guessed at, 

 but I think it would remain essentially the 

 same. The question next arises as to how 

 nearly the means of 75° and 58° correspond 

 with the known means, for the same season, 

 of the upper austral zone and boreal zone 

 respectively. Turning to the only published 

 table of zone temperatures* we find that 

 the range of normal mean temperature of 

 the six hottest consecutive weeks at ex- 

 treme northern and southern localities in 

 the two zones is as follows : upper austral, 

 71° to 78°; boreal (Canadian), 57° to 64°. 

 In each case, therefore, the mean tempera- 

 ture of the station coincided with that of 

 the life zone to which the fauna of the sta- 

 tion belonged. 



Geerit S. Miller, Jr. 



U. S. National Museum. 



The readings at stations 2 and 4, being the 

 most important to compare, are printed in 

 heavy type. It is to be remembered that 



THE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE PRIBILOF 

 SEAL ROOKERIES. 



In compliance with the Act of Congress 

 of 1893, the U. S. Fish Commission has 

 each year made an investigation respecting 

 the condition of seal life on the Pribilof Is- 

 lands. 



This work, usually performed in con- 

 nection with former duties on the steamer 

 Albatross, was officially resumed by the 

 writer during the past season in connection 

 with the work of the Division of Fisheries. 



*Merriam, Laws of Temperature Control of the 

 Geographic Distribution of Terrestrial Animals and 

 Plants. The Naiional Geographic 3Iagazine, VI., pp. 

 229-238, December, 1894. 



