210 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
Next in order comes the Crab-eating Seal, discovered by the French 
expedition in 1837-1840. This species formed the subject of two 
plates in Jacquinet’s and Pucheran’s ‘Zoological Atlas,’ published 
some time between 1842 and 1844. Lastly Ross’ Seal was discovered 
by Sir James Clarke Ross during his voyage of 1839-1843, and 
described by J. E. Gray in his account of the ‘ Zoology of the Voyage 
of H.MS. Erebus and Terror, published in 1844. Sir James Ross’ 
expedition obtained specimens of each of the four species, and 
accordingly Gray’s work became and still remains the standard 
description of them all. It actually contains in fact the first written 
description of the Crab-eating and of Ross’ Seal, and the first 
intelligent description of Weddell’s Seal. 
From 1844 until the nineties practically no specimens, except 
only those brought home by sealers, have reached our museums, and 
even the Challenger’s share of the spoil, although fortunately described 
by Sir William Turner in 1888, reached only rather meagre propor- 
tions. 
It is not surprising then, that, while we actually knew nothing 
of the appearance and habits of any of the four species, two of them 
(Weddell’s and Ross’ Seals) might until a year or two ago have 
claimed, and claimed justly, to be considered amongst the rarest and 
most obscurely known of all mammals. Of the latter species, in fact, 
only the two original specimens were known to exist. A third skin, 
the skull attached to which has disappeared, is preserved, as Professor 
D’Arcy W. Thompson has been good enough to inform me, in the 
town museum at Dundee. 
Very welcome, then, were the specimens brought back by the 
Belgica in 1899. Although not numerous, they were excellently 
‘preserved and carefully labelled, and in all cases the sex of each 
specimen had been ascertained. I count it a distinct privilege to 
have been permitted te describe and study the first scientifically 
procured specimens of their kind which have reached this country. 
In this collection all four species were represented, and the four 
skulls of Weddell’s, and two of Ross’ Seal which formed a part of it, 
must be regarded as a special prize. 
The Southern Cross collection, like that of the Belgica, contains 
specimens (both skins and skulls) of each species, the greatest rarities 
being four skins and skulls of Ross’ Seal. Weddell’s Seal is poorly 
represented by skulls, but numerously by skins; of the Sea Leopard 
there is one skin and skull, and about fifteen skins and skulls of 
Lobodon. It is most unfortunate that, owing to the unlucky death of 
Mr. Nicolai Hanson, the zoologist to the expedition, his private notes 
