WEDDELL’S SEAL. 25 
which appear dim and shadowy and ill-defined in the old coat, come out with startling 
contrast in the new. The summer sun undoubtedly plays the greater part in the 
bleaching, much more than the weathering of the preceding winter months. Weddell’s 
Seal does not appear to shun the water while moulting. 
These changes in coat are, however, distinct from differences due to individual 
variation. The skins of the present collection may be roughly divided into three types, 
not one of which is confined to any particular age, sex or locality. 
I. The type in which the markings of black, white, and intermediate gray are large, 
bold, and in striking colour contrast. Of such are skins Nos. 35, 47, 49, 56, and 74. 
II. The type in which the markings are all small and narrow, but very abundant and 
distinct, the white and black well contrasted. Of such are skins Nos. 40, 51, and 52. 
III. The type in which the markings are few and indistinct ; and of such are skins 
Nos. 36, 50, 62, and 72. 
Variations in size are exceedingly common, but may all be considered as the result 
of differing age, not sex. Such differences are exemplified in the measurements of the 
following skins :— 
Nose tip to tail tip. 
No. 42, just born, in first week : , : : . ; 4 ft. 10 ins. 
No. 45, in second week F i : : : ‘ : 5 ft. 11 ins. 
No. 86, three weeks old : ; : : : 6 ft. 2 ins. 
No. 2, about third month fe. 23. : : j i 6 ft. 6 ins. 
No. 51, at end of first year | ‘ F F ; ; ; 6 ft. 9 ins. 
No. 58, in third year probably —. : ; : ‘ : 7 ft. 5 ins. 
No. 3, fully adult jer . . : R ‘ : ; ; 10 ft. 0 ins. 
In the colouring of the adult Weddell’s Seal, perhaps the most typical characteristic 
is that the palest area is not ventral and median, but lateral or ventro-lateral. The 
dorsum is typically black; then comes a dorso-lateral area which is black with a few 
white streaks or splashes; then a lateral area in which the white blotches are larger 
and more abundant; then a ventro-lateral area in which the white is predominant, and 
very few darker markings are to be seen ; and lastly, the median ventral area is gray 
with white spots and streaks or splashes. The tail is, dorsally, the blackest part of all, 
but has a narrow white border which is constant. 
The gray colour of the head starts round the nostrils and passes backwards to 
surround the eyes, except for a white superciliary spot over each eye. The gray of 
the head spreads backwards to include the shoulders and fore flippers, but on the 
shoulders there are often short and discreet white streaks. The fore flippers are 
blackish gray above, but whitish on the radial border and beneath ; the hind flippers 
blackish gray above with whitish tibial border, but blackening towards the tips of the 
digits, which are bordered with a whitish edge, and where the nails are inserted, marked 
by a few white hairs. The nails are black, as also are the twisted facial bristles in the 
adult. These show no twist or wave in the young of the first few months. The hair at 
the corners of the mouth and at the excretory orifices is stained a deep chestnut brown. 
