4 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



But with the head it should be differoit. If we take out the measurements which 

 have to do with this feature we tind that there is a marked differeuce eorrespouding 

 to the general impression made by comparative observations on the two herds. These 

 measurements reduced to percentage of the total length are as follows, the resulis 

 being all the more striking because in each case the Pribilof animal shows a smaller 

 total length : \ 



Measiiremenis (in millimeiers) , showing differences in the head of typical Commander and Pribilof seals, taken 



from the table just given. 



Total length 



Distance l)etween eyes. 

 Per cent of total length 

 Distance between ears. 

 Per cent in total length 

 Distance nose to eye . . . 

 Per cent in total length 

 Distance nose to ear . . . 

 Per cent in total length 



Adult male. 



Com- 

 mander. 



Pribilof. 



,930 

 104 



5.3 



17C 



9,1 



98 



5 



213 



11 



1,887 

 127 



6.7 

 300 



16.2 

 115 

 G 

 216 

 11.4 



Adult female. 



Coni- 

 mandei. 



1,283 

 70 



5.4 

 138 

 10.7 

 67 



5.2 

 168 

 13.1 



Pribilof. 



1,262 

 89 

 7 

 2114 

 16.1 

 89 

 7 

 181 

 14.3 



Bacheior. 



Com- 

 mander 



1,285 

 71 

 5.5 

 138 

 10.7 

 80 

 6.2 

 1.58 

 12.3 



Pribilof 



1,224 

 83 

 6,7 

 217 

 IJ 7 

 76 

 6.2 

 166 

 13 5 



VARIATIONS IN SIZE AND COLOR OF THE PRIBILOF FUR SEAL. 

 l?y Fredkhic a. Lucas. 



While the Pribilof fur seal varies in size, color, and proportions to such an 

 extent that Avere but a few individuals known, they might be held as belonging to 

 two distinct siiecies; part of this, particularly the variation in color, is due to age. 

 The young pups are black above, with a few gray hairs on the head and neckj the 

 side of the neck is slightly tinged with gray and the greater part of the under surfat;e 

 is dusky brownish gray. There is a spot of yellowish-brown at the axilla and the 

 region around the mouth is of the same color. 



Between the middle of Sei)tember and the middle of October the majority of 

 pups have shed their black coats and assumed the silvery gray and white of the 

 '•gray-pup" stage. Up to the age of two years the young of both sexes are of a 

 beautiful steel gray above, with the throat and belly white, the central portion of the 

 latter being suffused with chestnut. On the brea-it, at the base of each Hipper is a 

 convex patch of gray which nearly meets its fellow of the opposite side, tlius reducing 

 the white at this place to a narrow isthmus, connecting the throat with the under parts. 

 There is a dark spot at the anterior edge of the flipper and a light spot on the axil, 

 this being retained for some time in the female. The white throat is very conspicuous 

 even at a distance, and indicates that tlie animals have not reached a killable age. 



The coloration deepens with age, the gray encroaching uijon the white of the 

 throat and thechevStnut deepening in intensity on the under side until it becomes rich 

 and dark, while the patches below the tliiipers unite to form a band across the chest, 

 the dark spots on the anterior edge of the flippers becoming a dull chestnut. 



Still later the chestnut under side gives place to gray with a slight chestnut 

 tinge, the old females being dark gray above and lighter gray below; this last with a 

 tinge of chestnut. There is a light i)atch on the center of the throat and a dark baud 

 ruuniug across the breast from (iiiiper to flipper. 



