OCR Text |
Show 1884.] SEA-LION FROM AUSTRALIA. 195 this more clearly, I subjoin figures (fig. 6) of the palates of skulls of Otaria ursina, which I observed in the Royal Museum at Berlin, in August 1875. In the skull marked A the opening of the palate is normal, in that marked B it is abnormally elongated ; but in all other respects the two skulls are perfectly similar. The skull (figs. 3-5) which I take to be that of a female has been already sufficiently described. It is 9 inches long by 4 | inches broad. The peculiar form of the teeth, with the strongly developed Fig. 6. Palates of Otaria cinerea; to show variation in the form of the opening. A, normal form; B, abnormal form. anterior and posterior cusps, is well shown in the side view (fig. 3) ; and again in the view of the under surface of the skull (fig. 4). The third skull is probably of a young male; it is 9 inches long by 5 inches broad. It does not appear necessary to figure it, as it reproduces the characters already remarked in the female on a slightly larger scale. I must now say a few words on the external characters. The skin of the type specimen is preserved in the Zoological Gallery of the Museum at the Jardin des Plantes. It is marked " Otarie cendre'e cS. Otaria cinerea, Peron, Phoca cinerea, Fisch. Des cotes de la |