K. BROWN ON THE SEALS OF GREENLAND. 47 



downwards to the abdominal region, whence it curves backwards 

 anteriorly to the posterior flippers, where it gradually disappears, 

 reaching further in some individuals than in others. In some this 

 band is broader than in others and more clearly impressed, while 

 in many the markings only present an approximation, in the form 

 of an aggregation of spots more or less isolated. The grey colour 

 verges into a dark hue, almost a black tint, on the muzzle and 

 flippers ; but I have never seen it white on the forehead as men- 

 tioned by Fabricitis. The muzzle is more prominent than in any 

 other northern Seal. 



Female. — The female is very different in appearance from the 

 male ; she is not nearly so large, rarely reaching 5 feet in length, 

 and when fully mature her colour is a dull white or yellowish 

 straw-colour, of a tawny hue on the back, but similar to the male 

 on the pectoral and abdominal regions, only perhaps somewhat 

 lighter. In some females 1 have seen the colour totally different ; 

 it presented a bluish or dark grey appearance on the back, with 

 peculiar oval markings of a dark colour apparently impressed on 

 a yellowish or reddish-brown ground. These spots are more or 

 less numerous in different individuals. Some Seal-hunters are 

 inclined to think this is a different species of Seal from the Saddle- 

 back, because the appearance of the skin is often so very different 

 and so extremely beautiful when taken out of the water, yet as 

 the females are always found among the immense flocks of the 

 Saddleback, and as hardly two of the latter females are alike, but 

 varying in all stages to the mature female, and on account of 

 their being no males to mate with them, I am inclined to believe 

 with Dr. Wallace that these are only younger female Saddle- 

 hacks. The muzzle and flippers of the female present the same 

 dark-chestnut appearance as in the male. 



Procreation, and Changes of Coats in the Young. — I have already 

 spoken of the young as being different from the male ; and in my 

 remarks upon their geographical distribution and migrations 

 reference will be made generally to their period and place of pro- 

 creation, more theoretically, however, than from actual knowledge 

 or observation. I now supply this from a study of this subject in 

 the Spitzbergen sea. The period at which the Saddlebacks take 

 to the ice to bring forth their young may be stated generally at 

 between the middle of March and the middle of April according 

 to the state of the season, &c., the most common time being about 

 the end of March. At this time they may be seen literally 

 covering the frozen waste as far as the eye can reach with the aid 

 of a telescope from the ^' crow's nest " at the main-royal mast- 

 head, and have on such occasions been calculated to number 

 upwards of half a milUon of males and females. After the females 

 have procured suitable ice on which they may bring forth their 

 young, the males leave them and pursue their course to the 

 margin of the ice ; there the Seal-hunters lose them, and are at a 

 loss as to what course they take, the common opinion being 

 that they leave for feeding-banks ; but where is unknown. They 

 most probably direct their course along the " cant " of the ice, 



