Mammalia.] 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
413 
la considering this species as distinct from the common 
dog, I am supported by the opinion of Mr. William Mac 
Leay. (See Linn. Trans, xiii.) 
Captain King informs me that these dogs never bark, in 
which particular they agree with the Linnean account of 
the American dogj that, in their appearance and cunning 
disposition, they resemble the fox ; and although occasion- 
ally domesticated in New South Wales, they never lose the 
sly habits peculiar to their breed, nor can be prevented 
from killing poultry or biting sheep. 
This dog, however, seems to be quite a distinct species 
from that found in the South Sea Islands, which Forster 
describes as being ‘‘ of a singular race: they mostly re- 
semble the common cur, but have prodigious large heads, 
remarkably little eyes, prick ears, long hair, and a short 
bushy tail. They are chiefly fed with fruit at the Society 
Isles ; but in the Low Isles and New Zealand, where they 
are the only domestic animals, they live upon fish. They 
are exceedingly stupid, and seldom oi never hark, only howl 
now and then.” — Forster’s Observations^ p. 189. 
S. Otaria cinerea, Peron et Lesueur, Voy, aux Torres Aus- 
tral. ij. 75. 
The head of a species, agreeing with the short description of 
Peron, was brought home by the expedition, but that it is the 
one intended by these authors, there is great room to doubt. 
I am informed that specimens of Peron's animal are in 
the Paris Museum, but Desmarest and Frederic Cuvier, who 
have both lately written upon seals, have only copied the 
very short specific character given by Peron. The head of 
our specimen is gray, covered with rather short, rigid, hairs, 
and without any woolly fur. The ears are short, conical. 
It is very distinct from the Otaria Falklandica of Desma- 
