4 GILL, PRODROME OP A 



The Phocid^ are cosmopolitan, and representatives are 

 found in the tropical seas, as well as in the waters of the 

 extremest north and south, the Indian Ocean being the 

 only large body of water in which no species are found. 

 While such, however, is the expression of the general dis- 

 tribution of the family, its minor groups are much more 

 narrowly restricted. The three subfamilies, into which the 

 family is divided, are each distinguished by peculiarities 

 in limitation. The Phocinjs are almost confined to the 

 polar and northern temperate seas, representatives of a 

 single genus extending southwards to or beyond the tropic 

 of Cancer,* while the Stenorhynchin^, after the exclusion 

 of Monachus, whose affinities are essentially with the Fho- 

 cincB, are confined as strictly to the opposite hemisphere. 

 The CYSTOPHORiNiE, on the other hand, are represented at 

 both extremes ; the species of one genus, Cystophora, nihabit- 

 ing the Arctic seas, whence it descends into the more 

 northern temperate Atlantic on both sides ; while Macro- 

 rhinus is represented by a species found in the Antarctic 

 seas, whence it advances to the Patagonian shores and the 

 Pacific coast of temperate South America, the southern 

 Australian seas and the Cape of Good Hope, and on the 

 other side of the Equator, but still in the Pacific ocean, 

 is replaced by a species peculiar to the warmer waters that 

 bound the North American continent on the west. The 

 exact limits of these species require, however, yet to be as- 

 certained. The RosMARiDiE are entirely confined to the 

 northern Polar seas. The Otariid^ have their metropolis 

 in the Pacific ocean, and are represented by species along 



* The " Halichcerus antarcticus" of Peale, very erronecrasly identified 

 Avitli Lohodon carcinophoga by Dr. J. E. Gray, is a typical species of Phoca^ 

 but appears to be identical with a species occurring along the California 

 and Oregonian coasts,, and,, consequently there must be some eiTor as to 

 its assigned habitat in the antarctic seas. I am happy to add that Mr. Peale 

 himself now doubts the correctness of the labels on the faith of which he 

 gave its habitat, and as a change of name is desirable, I would propose that 

 of P. Pealii. 



The relations of the Jamaican seal, rejoicing in the two names, Phoca 



tropicalis Gi'ay and -1 ! Wilkianus Gosso (1851), are very uncertain. 



Mr. Gosse obtained a single skin. The exact origin of the Cystophora antil- 

 larum was not mentioned in the original description, and ts West IndiaK 

 habitat requires confirmation. 



