Royal Physical Society. 427 



of the Calochepalus vitulinus, one of Halichwrus gryplius 

 (imperfect), and one of the PagopMlus Groenlandicus. In 

 the Barcleian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, be- 

 sides a skeleton of Calocephalus vitulinus, there is also one 

 of Halichairus, a cranium of the same, and two of P. Groen- 

 landicus. In addition to these, there is a skull of the Phoca 

 barbata in the anatomical collection of the University, along 

 with a skeleton and two skulls of G. vitulinus. In the osteo- 

 logical rooms connected with the National Museum of the 

 University there is an interesting skull of a seal, marked 

 " from Southern Africa," that merits a brief notice. The 

 dentition is four cutting teeth in the upper jaw, and two in 

 the lower ; two canines in each jaw, and ten molars, equal to 

 thirty, corresponding to the sub-family Cystophorina, in the 

 British Museum Catalogue. In that sub-family Dr Gray has 

 included two genera, Morunga and Gystopliora ; but this 

 cranium does not well agree with the generic characters as- 

 cribed to either of these. At present it will only be necessary 

 to mention the form of the palate bones. In Morunga, the 

 hinder palatine bone is stated by Dr Gray to be short and 

 transverse. In Cystophora it is said to be broad and square. 

 In the skull belonging to the National Museum, the palate 

 bones form a double notch behind, with two inner processes, 

 forming a distinct triangle in the middle, somewhat similar 

 to the posterior margin of the palate bone in the dog. The 

 nasal bones are greatly expanded behind, becoming suddenly 

 very narrow in front. The general contour of the cranium is 

 round and vaulted, depressed posteriorly over the supra-occi- 

 pital boue, and with a large internal space for the brain. It 

 measures about nine inches in length at the base, and from 

 the complete separation of the sutures, and general condition 

 of the teeth, it evidently belonged to a young individual of 

 the species. I am indebted for the opportunity of examin- 

 ing this skull to Mr Davis, the assistant conservator, whose 

 obliging disposition, untiring energy in perfecting the arrange- 

 ment of the national collection, and in making additions where 

 mostly wanted, — viz., to our indigenous fauna,— deserves the 

 highest praise. There are two important characters belong- 

 ing to the Californian skull, neither of which are mentioned 



