256 



PHOCIDiE. 



black, crossing the front part of the back and passing 

 backwards towards the hind limbs. The muzzle and 

 extremities are dark, the former sometimes nearly black. 

 These markings, however, are not constantly alike, the 

 saddle-mark being much more pronounced and regular in 

 some than in others. The lower parts are of " a dingy 

 or tarnished silvery hue." 



The adult female, says Dr. Brown, is of a dull whitish 

 or yellowish straw-colour, and tawny on the back. 

 Some are bluish or grey above, with oval markings, these 

 he believes to be younger individuals. 



The adult animal attains usually a length of five feet, 

 and sometimes more, but rarely reaches six feet. 



