254 PHocroiE. 



of this species, and he considers that it is confounded by 

 the Hebridians with the Grey Seal under the name of 

 " Tapvaist." Dr. Saxby stated, in the " Zoologist " for 

 1864, that several Harp Seals were seen in March of that 

 year in the Voe of Baltasound, Shetland, and observes 

 that the species is not very rare there, but is said only 

 to be seen during bad weather. Lastly, we have been 

 kindly informed by Mr. H. Evans of Darley Abbey, 

 Derbyshire, that about the year 1856 he shot what he 

 fully believes to have been a Greenland Seal near 

 Roundstone, County Galway ; most unfortunately the 

 animal sunk and was lost, but Mr. Evans, who is well 

 acquainted with the Common and Grey species, is 

 perfectly certain that it was quite distinct from either. 



This is an Arctic species, vrith a very wide lateral 

 range, extending from North America to Nova Zembla, 

 and probably still further to the east. It is strictly 

 migratory, and is in no one locality found aU through 

 the year. It may be said to be resident on the coasts of 

 Greenland, but leaves them twice annually, from ]March 

 till May to breed, and again in the pairing season from 

 July to September. In spring it is found in great 

 numbers near the Island of Jan Mayen, and occasionally 

 it wanders much further to the southward. 



The Greenland Seal frequents the margins of the 

 great ice-fields and the neighbouring floating masses, and 

 it is said never to make an atluk or breathing-hole like 

 the other species. Our friend Prof. Newton, who met 

 with this Seal at Spitzbergen, observes (P. Z. S., 1864, 

 p. 498) : — " It is of a sociable disposition, and we saw it 

 in herds of not less than fifty in number. These were 

 very fond of swimming in line, their heads only above 

 water, engaged in a game of ' follow my leader,' for on 

 the first Seal making a roll over or a spring into the air, 



