t *'5 ] 
the greater part of the fkin, having lefs of the yel- 
low ; and, in fhort, even thofe of the fame fpecies 
are as varioufly lpotted or clouded as the hounds in 
the fame pack 3 and it is probable, that, in unfre- 
quented ifiands and countries, other fpecies of this 
tribe are yet undifcovered. But it muft be ob- 
ferved, that, where no other difference, but the varie- 
gation of the colour, appears among them, that is, 
in their fize, proportion, teeth, or extremities, they 
are no more to be accounted different fpecies, than 
cows having various changes in the dilbribution of 
the clouds or fpots on their fkins. 
The reverend Mr. Walter, in the firfb chapter of 
the fecond book of Lord Anfori s Voyage , defcribes 
an animal under the name of the fea-lion, an abflrabb 
of which you have as follows. He fays, That feals 
haunt the Ifland of Juan Fernandes in great numbers; 
but that there is another amphibious creature here, 
call'd a fea-lion, that bears fome refemblance to a 
feal, tho’ much larger : they are in fize, when at 
full growth, from i 2 to 20 feet in length, and from 
8 to 15 in circumference. Their fkin is an inch 
thick 3 and they have at lead a foot in thicknefs of 
fat upon the flefh; fo that a large one affords a butt 
of oil : and he adds, that one being firfl fhot, they 
meafured the quantity of blood, having cut his throat 
for that purpofe, and it amounted to two hogfheads, 
befides what remain’d in the blood-veffels. Their fkins ' 
were cover d with fhort hair, of a light dun colour 3 
but the tails, and their fins, which ferve them for 
feet on fhore, are almofb black. Their feet are di- 
vided at the ends like fingers 3 the web, which joins 
them, not reaching to the extremities 3 and each of 
P 2 thefe 
