1887] Votes on the Life-History of Monachus Tropicalis, 261 
larly on the belly, lies a thick coating of fat. The eye of the 
adult is an index to its mental capacity, for so dull is it that in 
the first specimen observed I was much inclined to think that 
this organ was diseased. The pupil is medium-sized, round, and 
well defined, the iris is light reddish brown, in color, and with 
but little of the sclerotic coat showing. Over the cornea there 
appears a deadening film, giving it much the same appearance as 
a glass eye or marble that has been so much handled as to lose 
its polish. May not this lustreless eye arise from the strong 
reflection of a tropical sun upon the coral sands? Most seals 
have a peculiarly soft, intelligent eye. 
When lying with the head close to the ground, either in life 
or immediately after death, the shoulders appear more prominent 
than in any other seal with which we are familiar. 
The whole character of this seal is that of tropical inactiv- 
ity, exemplified by the peculiar circumstance that several of 
those collected had such a growth of minute alge upon their 
- backs and flippers, more especially the hinder ones, as to appear 
_ quite green. At no time does this seal raise its head as much 
above the line of its back as does the harbor seal: the flexibility 
of its cervical vertebrae appearing to be quite restricted. Upon 
first approaching them they appeared to have no dread whatever 
of the human presence, lazily looking at us, perhaps uneasily 
shifting their position, and then dozing off in restless sleep. 
Upon advancing to within three or four feet they would some- 
what rouse themselves, bark in a hoarse, gurgling, death-rattle 
tone, and uneasily hitch themselves along a few paces. At first 
the seals offered very little resistance, and only upon the second 
day of our stay, when they had become somewhat accustomed 
to our presence, and when we made an onslaught upon a group 
of several, did they show fight at all. On this occasion their 
numbers and their being huddled together seemed to give them 
courage, as well as making our attempts to kill them with clubs 
and daggers (we had early decided not to use firearms, because 
of the danger of frightening them away from such small islands) 
dangerous and more or less abortive. Not infrequently would 
they make savage rushes for a yard or two at some one of our 
attacking party, and failing to reap revenge upon us would fall — 
upon their dead or dying fellows, biting and shaking them in 
impotent rage; or occasionally two would engage each other in 
