OTAEIAB^. 11 



Zoology' at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., has published (1870) 

 an. essay on the Eared Seals (Otariadae), with detailed descriptions 

 of the North-Pacific species. 



He divides the family into subfamilies : — 



Subfam. 1. TriehopJiodncB, without under-fur, and containing the 

 genera Oxakia, Etjmetopias, Zalophtjs. 



Subfam. 2. Eulophodnm, with thick under-fur, containing Callo- 

 KHunis and ARCiocBPHtirs. 



He gives figures of the skulls of different ages of the North- 

 Pacific species. 



Mr. Allen had only the skins in salt and the bones of two 

 North-Pacific species to study, and he does not seem to be aware 

 that the abundance of the under-fur greatly depends on the season 

 and age of the animal when collected ; and unfortunately he seems 

 to have had no specimens or skulls of the southern species to enable 

 him to study their characters ; yet with these limited materials he 

 has ventured to propose a revision of the species of OtariadEe, and, 

 from the same cause, has suggested the uniting of many incongruous 

 species together. It may be very true that zoologists have erred 

 (myself among the number) in making too many genera and species ; 

 but the correction of this error requires as much study and consi- 

 deration of the entire subject as have been used in their determina- 

 tion ; and science is not advanced by hasty alterations founded on a 

 few specimens. 



The Eared Seals are collected for their oil and skins. Most of the 

 species have very dense under-fur of soft erect hairs between the 

 bases of the longer hairs. These are called " Eur-Seals ; " and the 

 skins, when deprived of their long hairs, are very valuable. The 

 dressed furs of the various species and localities are of very different 

 commercial and economic value. The skins oi Neophoca lohata (of 

 Australia) and Phocarctos Hookeri (of the Southern Ocean), being 

 nearly destitute of this under-fur, are called Hair-Seals by the 

 sealers. Their skins are of little comparative value, as they are only 

 used like the skins of the Earless Seals (PhocidsB). 



Synopsis op the Gbneea. 



Section I. Palate produced behind to a line even with the condyles of the 

 jaw. Grinders f.^. Under-fur sparse. Sea-lions. 



Tribe 1. Otabiina. 



1. Ota')ia. Antarctic Seas. East and west coast of South America. 



» 



Section II. Palate only extended behind to a line even with the middle 

 part of the zygomatic arch. Sea-bears. 



Tribe 2. Oallouhinina. Grinders f.|. Skull oblong; face broad, 

 shorter than the orbit ; forehead arched. Flap of toes very long. 



2. Callorhinus. Under-fiu^ abundant. North-west coast of America. 

 Tribe 3. Abctocbphalina. Grinders f . f ; face of the skuU shelving 



