246 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



Range. — Galapagos Archipelago; Culpepper Island 

 (Hopkins Expedition), Wenman Island (Hopkins Expedi- 

 tion), Albemarle Island (Hopkins Expedition), Tower and 

 Abingdon Islands (various sealing expeditions). 



Specific characters. — Distinguishable from its nearest ally A. philippi of 

 Juan Fernandez by its wider skull, both the zygomatic and mastoid measure- 

 ments being considerably greater, and by its longer snout and mandible. 



Coloration.— Khove dark brown sometimes grizzled with grayish, becoming 

 more grayish and yellowish about the face; below lighter, the sides of the 

 belly chocolate-brown; limbs above like the back, distally becoming lighter 

 brownish; naked parts blackish. 



Measttrements.SknW. Occipito-nasal length 213 mm., greatest zygomatic 

 breadth 135 mm., length of snout 74 mm., length of mandible 153 mm., 

 width of nasals 29 mm., interorbital width 25 mm., mastoid breadth 128 

 mm., length of upper dental series 86 mm. 



The fur-seal is undoubtedly a strictly resident species as 

 is most of the littoral fauna. There is nothing in the physi- 

 cal conditions of the archipelago to cause migration. The 

 climate is practically the same throughout the year, and the 

 fishes which constitute the food of this seal are chiefly resi- 

 dent forms. The seals, moreover, appear to be confined to 

 certain islands, that is, they return to breed annually upon 

 the island upon which they were reared. It appears from 

 the records of the sealers that since the beginning of seal- 

 ing in the archipelago, this species has inhabited certain 

 rookeries, and has remained upon these grounds through 

 years of persecution, the rookeries ceasing to exist only 

 when the bands were exterminated. Wenman Island for 

 instance has always been a populous breeding ground and 

 is at present the habitat of a considerable number of fur- 

 seals. 



This seal may now be considered rare in the archipelago. 

 But two hundred skins were obtained by the crew of our 

 schooner during six months' sealing. These were secured 

 chiefly at Wenman, Narborough, and Albemarle islands, 

 the greater number being taken at Wenman Island. None 

 were seen on any of the other islands except Culpepper, 

 where a single one was observed. 



In habits the fur-seal is quite different from Otaria, being 

 much more timid and wary, usually remaining hidden in 

 caves and crevices between the rocks while ashore. This 



