1887] Notes on the Life-History of Monachus Tropicalis. 257 
NOTES ON THE LIFE-HISTORY OF MONACHUS 
TROPICALIS, THE WEST INDIAN SEAL. 
BY HENRY L. WARD. 
HEN in 1494 Columbus was cruising among the West 
Indies with his little caravels, searching for the ever-delu- 
sive route to the kingdoms of the Grand Khan, towards the 
latter part of August his vessels became separated, and in order 
to spy out if possible the missing ones he came to anchor near 
a tall rock lying south of the centre of Hayti and called by him 
Alto Velo. 
Sailors were sent ashore with orders to climb to the top and 
look out for the other caravels. Unsuccessful in their search for 
them, on returning to the ship “they killed eight sea-wolves 
(seals) which were sleeping on the sands.” 
This West Indian seal was consequently the first observed 
American mammal larger than the Coypu or Cane-Rat that a 
ably had been seen at Cuba. 
The next notice that we have of it was written by Dampier in 
1675; then follow Hill’s account in 1843, Gray’s in. 1849, 1850, 
and 1874, and Gosse’s in 1851. This comprises all accounts of 
which I am aware that, based upon specimens in hand, appeared 
previous to 1884. Dampier and Hill and Wilkie (Gosse’s account) 
in 1846 have given us the only records of observations concerning 
the life of this seal. Since then all trace of it has been lost, two 
small skins in Mexico and a single young one in this country 
comprising all the specimens known to be in existence up to the 
time that we obtained others. 
Last fall I had consummated a plan to try and find this seal, 
when, hearing from Professor F. Ferrari Perez, of the Mexican 
Geographical and Exploring Survey, that he had the same object 
in view, we decided to join forces. Accordingly, in November last 
we met by mutual appointment at the city of Campeche. The 
Triangles, or rather the East Triangle, was the point at which we 
had decided to make our first search for Monachus, This is in lat. 
20° 55’ N., long. 92° 12’ W. or one hundred and eight nautical 
miles in a northwesterly direction from the nearest point of the 
Yucatan peninsula. Distant two or three hundred yards in a 
northeasterly direction from the east island lies what J shall 
