SEALS. 221 
in salt, a considerable indication of indistinct spots or mottling, a 
character which is quite borne out by the specimens in the British 
Museum. Immature skins amongst these exhibit a considerable 
amount of mottling, and I strongly suspect that the Crab-eating 
Seal is one of those species the young of which shows traces of spots 
which are gradually lost as the animal grows older. 
Dr. Cook’s photographs seem to show us in Zobodon an animal 
somewhat intermediate in its proportions between Leptonychotes and 
Ommatophoca. Both head and body are thicker and blunter than in 
the former, but not so thick and blunt as in the latter form. The 
long flat anterior portion of the skull has a distinct effect on the 
physiognomy. 
Distinguishing Characteristics—The skull of this species is well 
known, so that a detailed description is uncalled for. Although not 
possessing the enormous dimensions of that of Ogmorhinus, it may 
be at once distinguished at all ages from that of any other species by 
the peculiar cheek-teeth. These are both large and remarkable for 
the complicated arrangement of cusps in which they terminate 
superiorly. As in Ogmorhinus, there is a principal central cusp, but 
this is supported, not by two others, one anteriorly, the other poste- 
riorly, but by one quite small cusp anteriorly, and by from one to 
three posteriorly. The central cusp is far larger than the remainder, 
and its apex is usually bulbous; all have a tendency to point back- 
wards. In addition to these dental characters, the skull of this 
species differs from the somewhat similarly sized Leptonychotes in its 
longer palate, and longer, broader, anterior portion, as well as in the 
shape of the lower jaw. This is in Lobodon far deeper, stronger, and 
more massively built than in Leptonychotes. 
OMMATOPHOCA. 
Distribution.—Although probably poorer in numbers than the 
other three species, Ross’ Seal is thus shown to have a fairly wide 
distribution, having been found (excluding Ross’ own specimens, the 
locality for which is uncertain), so far as we know, in all cases on 
the pack-ice in the neighbourhood of Joinville Island and Louis 
Philippe Land (Bruce), west of Alexander Land (Belgica), and in the 
neighbourhood of Victoria Land (Southern Cross). 
Habits.—Of the habits of Ross’ Seal practically nothing was known 
until the publication of Monsieur Racovitza’s interesting notes. As 
has been already stated, that naturalist found it, like Weddell’s, the 
White Seal and the Sea Leopard, an inhabitant of the pack-ice, where 
it feeds exclusively on large cephalopods. 
