86 MAMMALIA-ORDER IV.—CARNIVORA. 



representatives of the sub-family Monachince are restricted to the southern 

 seas ; each genus including only a single species. First among these comes 

 the beautifully spotted leopard-seal (Ogmorhinus leptonyx), in which all the 

 cheek teeth have three large cusps ; the central one being the largest, 

 with its apex curved backwards, while the tips of the others incline towards 

 the middle one. Writing of the seals of this and other species seen during a 

 voyage undertaken in 1892-93, Mr. W. S. Bruce observes that from December 

 to February they "are to be found on the pack-ice, where, during the day, 

 they bask in the sun, digesting the meal of the previous night. Their food 

 consists of fish or shrimp-like crustaceans, and sometimes of penguins. 

 Stones, which were probably i3rst swallowed by the penguins, may also be 

 found in their stomachs. They become so lazy with sleep that a man may 

 dig them in the ribs with the muzzle of his gun, and wondering what it is 

 disturbing their slumbers, they raise their head, which quickly falls pierced 

 with a bullet. There may only be one seal on a piece of ice, which is usually 

 the case with the leopard-seals, but the smaller kinds lie in half-dozens and . 

 tens, and as many as forty-seven were seen on one piece during the recent 

 cruise. On one occasion several seals were found upon a tilted berg ; so high 

 was the lowest edge above the surface of the water that the boat's crew with 

 difficulty clambered up and secured their prey. Yet the seals must have 

 made a leap from the water on to this their last resting-place. December 

 seems to be their mating-season : about that time they are in very poor con- 

 dition, and very much scarred. The females appear to be as freely scarred 

 as the males. It was also noted that the seals were most numerous where 

 the water was bluest and clearest — this in all probability meaning that they 

 were more numerous on the outside of the pack, since the muddy olive-brown 

 colour of the water, due to diatoms, seen so frequently in the south polar 

 seas, seems to indicate proximity to the main pack. The males appear to be 

 as numerous as the females, and, in the case of the leopard-seal and WeddeD's 

 seal at least, the males are perhaps rather smaller than the females. They 

 move swiftly through (he water, and can throw themselves eight or nine feet 

 above the surface, covering distances of fully 20 feet. Their moaning in 

 the gloaming of a, calm grey day comes as a weird sound through the haze, 

 and makes the icy solitude more lonelj', adding awe to a scene already full of 

 fascination. Tliey seem to wonder at man, and nut recognising him as an 

 enemy they allow him to approach, only to be laid low with club or bullet. 

 It is a matter of great regret that they should be so indiscriminately 

 massacred ; there is no regard for sex or age, and even females heavy with 

 young do not escape. If fleets of sealers continue to visit the south, there 

 should be some law of protection, otherwise there is no doubt that, like the 

 southern fur-seals at the beginning of the century, these Antarctic seals will 

 be exterminated." 



The second genus is represented by the still more beautiful Antarctic white 

 seal (Lobodon curciiiophiuja), distinguished from the last by the nmch com- 

 pressed and elongated cheek teeth having one chief recurved cusp, with one 

 anterior, and from one to three much smaller but distinct posterior cusps. 

 Of this lovely seal Mr. Bruce writes that " its coat is of a beautiful creamy 

 white, resembling that of the polar bear, but short-haired, the colour be- 

 coming somewhat more intense along the back. Looking at the animal face 

 to face, its coat appears silvery, and the dorsal stripe almost vanishes ; but 

 when looked at from behind it assumes a deeper cream colour, and the broad 

 stripe along the back becomes quite prominent. The full-grown animal may 



