R. BROWN ON THE SEALS OF GREENLAND. 55 



Popular names. — Grey Seal (English naturalists) ; Graskdl (or 

 Grey Seal of the Scandinavian naturahsts) ; Stdtskdl {(J£idim. I. c.) ; 

 Graskdl {Swedish) ; Sjoskdl, Utskdrsskdl, smd Krumnos (various 

 Scandanavian local names) ; Gro^ifalg ? (Lapps) ; Tapvaist ? 

 (western islands of Scotland) ; Haaf-Jish (northern islands of 

 Scotland). 



General Remarks, — The Grey Seal has no doubt been frequently 

 confounded with other species, particularly Phoca barbata and 

 the female of Pagophilus groenlandicus. 



It does not seem to frequent the high seas, though possibly this 

 species may be confounded with the " Ground Seal " and some 

 forms of the " Saddleback." It is said to produce on the coast of 

 Sweden in February, and to have one pup at a birth, of a white 

 colour, which attains the dark grey colour of the adult species 

 in about fourteen days.* In 1861, a little south of Disco Island, 

 we killed a Seal the skull of which proved it to be of this species ; 

 and again this summer I saw a number of skins in Egedesminde 

 and other settlements about Disco Bay which appeared to be of 

 this species. Though the natives do not seem to have any name 

 for it, the Danish traders with whom I talked were of opinion 

 that the Graskdl, with which they were acquainted as an inha- 

 bitant of the Cattegat, occasionally visited south and the more 

 southerly northern portions of Greenland with the herds of Atak 

 (P. grcenlandicus). 



The skull to which I refer, though carefully examined at the 

 time, was afterwards accidentally destroyed by a young Polar 

 Bear which formed one of our ship's company on that northern 

 voyage ; therefore, though perfectly convinced of its being entitled 

 to be classed as a member of the Greenland fauna, I am not in a 

 position to assert this with more confidence than as being a very 

 strong probability. It should be carefully looked for among the 

 herds of P. groenlandicus when they arrive on the coast. Its 

 hunting forms nowhere an important branch of industry ; it is, 

 however, killed on the Scandanavian coasts, at various places, 

 where it is most abundant. A large Grey Seal about eight feet 

 in length will yield (the Swedes say) about 12 lispunds of blubber, 

 equal in value to 36 rigsdaler banco (Swedish); and the hide, 

 which is as large as an ox-hide, will bring the value of such a 

 Seal up to the sum of 60 rigsdaler banco ( Swedish). | I have 

 seen and examined this Seal in various collections, and have seeii 

 it alive on the coasts of the Cattegat, &c., and among the northern 

 islands of Scotland, but can add nothing of value to the excellent 

 account of Nilssonj in his " Skandinavisk Fauna" (Forsta DeleD, 

 Daggdjuren, 1847), pp. 298-310. 



* Capt. McDonald has specimens of a beautiful yellowish-white. It begins 

 to get dark on the snout and flippers within a day or two of birth. It is so 

 abundant in the Hebrides that in one voyage he has killed 70. It is rather 

 rarer on the mainland. (Turner, Journ. Anat. & Phys., 1870 : Elwes, Ibis; 

 1869, p. 25, &c.) 



t In the kjokkenmodding of Denmark, in company with remains of 

 Castor fiber and Bos primigenius are found those of Halickcerus gryphuSf 

 showing it to have been at one time sufficiently abundant to form part of the 

 food of the primitive inhabitants of Scandinavia. 



