44 EDWARD A. WILSON. 
not only by Dr. Racovitza, but also in the ‘Southern Cross’ Report, and lastly in the 
present publication (sce Figs. 27 and 28). It is well adapted to a marine life, and, in 
consequence, ill adapted for progression on land and ice. On the few occasions on 
which we saw it in the pack ice, it made no effort to escape. Consequently, we can 
say nothing as to its methods of progression. It has, as it lies on an ice floe, a most 
peculiar pug-like expression of countenance. It was in each case excessively fat, and 
its head was withdrawn into the circular folds or rolls of heavily blubbered skin on the 
neck to such an extent as almost to disappear from sight. The eyes are not large, and 
the mouth is small for the size of the animal compared with the mouths of other 
Antarctic seals. This one would expect from the decadence of the post-canine teeth. 
The prominence of the forehead and throat in Fig. 28 is as characteristic as it is 
peculiar, and results solely from the withdrawal of the head upon the neck. 
We had not the good fortune to see or hear this seal perform vocally, but 
having constantly heard Weddell’s Seals produce a variety of musical noises both 
laryngeal and cesophageal, we could easily appreciate the excellent description given 
by Dr. Racovitza of Ommatophoca :—“ Ce phoque posséde aussi une aptitude curieuse 
qui le distingue de ses congéneéres. Sa voix est beaucoup plus compliquée et les sons 
qu'il émet plus variés que ceux des autres phoques. I] peut gonfler son larynx et en 
outre son énorme voile de palais, de fagon & constituer deux caisses de résonnance, deux 
poches contenant grande provision d’air. Cela lui permet d’exécuter des trilles et 
arpeges aussi sonores que bizarres. Lorsqu’on l'irrite, il commence par gonfler son 
larynx en rabattant la téte en arriére. I] produit alors, la gueule ouverte, et son voile de 
palais distendu apparaissant comme une grosse boule rouge, un roucoulement semblable 
a celui d’une tourterelle enroude. Puis il ferme la gueule et émet un gloussement 
de poule effrayée. I] expulse finalement avec violence, par les narines, sa provision d’air, 
et cela produit un reniflement comparable a celui que fait un cheval qui s’ébroue.” 
The flippers of Ross’ Seal are large and well formed for swimming. ‘The nails are 
generally to be found, if carefully searched for, on each digit of both fore and hind 
limbs, but they are all rudimentary, and wholly functionless. The fore flippers are 
webbed to the extremities of each digit, and when spread the limb forms a most efficient 
paddle. The hind limbs have also a very extensive spread, the first and fifth digits, in 
particular, beimg flattened out and lengthened, form lobes which have a strong 
similarity to those of Macrorhinus ; they are also, as in that seal, completely covered 
with hair. The length of the first and fifth digits of the hind limb, compared with the 
third or centre, is as 15 and 16 inches to 9 inches. 
The food of Ommatophoca consists of cephalopods. The beaks of cuttle-fish have 
on more than one occasion been found in the stomach contents of this seal, and the 
following passage occurs in a report on the Argentine Antarctic Station by Mr. 
Rudmose Brown, of the Scottish Expedition (The Scottish Geographical Magazine 
for April, 1905) :—‘‘ From the number of cuttle-fish beaks found in seals’ stomachs, the 
Scottish Expedition had the strongest evidence of the existence of a large cuttle-fish in 
