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Show 1875.] MR. J. W. CLARK ON EARED SEALS. $6 1 C. Male. Skin in the Colonial Museum, New Zealand. "Totallength 78 inches. "Whiskers all white." D. Female. Skeleton in Colonial Museum, New Zealand. "Total length 62 inches. "Hair on rump very short, brownish beneath, whisker-bristles all black but one." Dr. Hector had previously described specimens taken at Milford Sound, west coast of Otago, in February 1871 ; but as tbe descriptions and measurements correspond with the notes I have just read, I need not do more than refer to the paper, which is to be found in tbe 'Transactions of the New-Zealand Institute,' vol. iv. p. 196, except to remark that he notes a slight difference in the colour of the fur :- " tips of the whole, as laid open by the hand, black ; middle parts chestnut-brown, and pure white at base." I now proceed to describe the specimens exhibited. The animal in the flesh is a young female. inches. Length from tip of nose to tip of hind feet 30 ,, ,, tip of tail 25 ,, of tail 1 ,, from tip of nose to edge of anterior pectoral limb, in a straight line 11 ,, from tip of nose to ear 4 Pectoral limb-length from the shoulder-joint to the furthest extremity of the manus, measured along the outer edge 10 Pelvic limb-length from root of tail to most distant portion of free flipper - 6 If we compare these measurements with those of Otaria jubata, as given by Dr. Murie (Tr. Z. S. vol. vii. p. 530), or even glance at any of the* figures of that animal, it will be seen that the proportions are very different. In that the distance from the muzzle to tbe root of the tail is 64 inches, and from the same part to tbe anterior edge of the pectoral limb 23 inches. Consequently the limb is set on at about one third of the distance from the head to the tail, while in this animal it is nearly in the middle of the body. The " manus " preserves the same proportions to the body as in 0. jubata; but the " pes " is exactly one fifth of the whole length, whereas in the former it is one fourth. It must of course be remembered that the specimen from New Zealand is young; still these differences are almost too great to be accounted for by age alone. The hair all over the body is coarse, about three quarters of an inch long on the hind quarters, one inch long on the back of the neck, and half an inch long on the top of the head. On the under surface of the body it is three quarters of an inch long on the throat, and half an inch long on the hind quarters. The general colour is black, all over the head and upper parts of the body. Individual hairs, when pulled out, are seen to be of a pale yellow for |
