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Show .] PROF. W. H. FLOWER ON THE ELEPHANT SEAL. 153 Upper canine:- Length of enamelled crown Ant.-post. diameter at base Transverse diameter at base Lower canine :- Length of enamelled crown Ant.-post. diameter at base Transverse diameter at base Width between outer borders of upper canines at base of enamelled surface Female. Very young 3934. 17 10 8 15 10 7 1 44 J Male. Very young. 3934 A 29 21 16 29 21 54 Adult or nearly so. Anson's. 3923. 28i 18 16 28i 20 16 100 3920. 25J 18 16 23l 19 15 107 3921. 30 21 18 31 23 19 128 Mr. Man set's. 3921 A. 24i 21 18 25i 22 17 140 Largest of Mr. Mose-ley's specimens. 26i 21 20 ... • •• I have examined many isolated canines of Elephant Seals, including some which Mr. Moseley has been kind enough to put at m y disposal, which he selected as the largest he could find from a number of skulls lyiug on the beach at Heard's Island, and find none with crowns materially larger than those mentioned above, or differing greatly in the form or size of the root. I have, in fact, seen no tooth which, crown and root together, measures in a straight line between the apex of the crown and the middle of the root more than 6 inches, or 150 millims., or which exceeds in greatest diameter L6 inch, or 40 millims., though these dimensions are very nearly reached in all the specimens which show signs of maturity. I am therefore not disposed to attach the same importance to Pernetty's statement of teeth of this animal in the Falkland Islands 7 inches long2 and 3 in diameter, which m y friend Dr. Peters does, and to infer from it the existence of a distinct species. It is, of course, possible, though as yet without proof, that in former times, before these animals were subjected to the severe struggle for existence occasioned by the remorseless pursuit of the sealers, many, or at least some favoured individuals, may have acquired a much larger size than at present; but before accepting the statement above quoted, it would be necessary to know whether the tooth of a Sperm Whale, or some other Cetacean, may not have been mistaken for that of a Sea-elephant. i Apex worn. 2 If measured along the curve, this would scacrely exceed the ordinary size as to length ; but the " trois pouces de diamettre " is difficult to understand, especially as he adds, " Ce n'est pas une des plus grandes;" and what does Pernetty mean by " nous en avons compte vingt-deux telles que celle-ci dans la machoire d'un de ces lions, a laquelle il en nianquoit encore cinq ou six; elles etoient solides dans toute leur longueur, et ne sailloient guere plus d'un pouce ou d'un pouce & demi, hors de leurs alveoles " ? (op. cit. p. 48). Surely it must have been the jaw of an Orca, and not a Seal, that he was describing! |