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Show 376 MR. J. G. MILLAIS ON THE SKIN OF THE [Mar. 1, Crown of head pale grey. This is by far the commonest type of adult male, and quite 60 per cent, belong to this form. The " rope "-like markings on the neck are seldom seen in this type. Although I have never yet examined a specimen, I have strong reasons for believing that sometimes silvery grey-white adult males-may occur. These are probably not albinos, but simply extremely light-coloured examples of the light type on which there are no spots, and have been seen lying on rocks with the sun playing on them. Mr. Sutherland, the keeper at Kintradwell, Sutherland, who has seen and shot many Grey Seals, stated in a letter to me that he had twice seen a big male that was pure white, and for two seasons a large male has frequented the outer skerries near Belmullet, and been seen several times by Philip Lovell, the " king" of Inniskeara, who has lived amongst these seals all his life. The pelage in the adult male and female is short and somewhat rigid. In the late summer and autumn it is somewhat sparse, but is close and pretty thick from February to May, when it is-in best condition. Mr. Allen, and others who have since quoted from his writings, say that the hair is often recurved at the tips, but this is not m y experience except in stuffed specimens subjected to artificial heat. The skin of the adult male emits a pungent odour resembling coal-tar, and this scent is strongly retained after curing, as is the case with petrels, &c. In the females this odour is scarcely noticeable and is lost after death. Adult Females. Adult females are represented by two distinct types. They are much paler in colour than the males, and vary less in their pelages. 1. The Light Gh*ey Female.--Quite 95 per cent, of female Grey Seals conform to this pelage. A pure bluish grey is found over all the upper parts, whilst pure white hair covers the belly and throat, a few black spots are generally seen on the shoulders and fore flippers, and the lower throat is well marked with black spots. When in full coat these females possess a beautiful silvery sheen over the whole coat, which, taking on the lights of the surrounding sea and sky, gives the pelage an iridescence of many hues. The crown of the head, although a very pale grey, is especially bright as well as the flanks, and at a distance the Seal looks silvery white*. 2. The Dark Spotted Female.-I have never seen a " black " female, although I have reason to believe that such has occurred. * The variation of the colour in a single specimen of the Grey Seal is most remarkable when the light strikes it in different ways. A n adult female, lying on a rock w)th the sun directly overhead, looked almost silvery white, in a side-light sea-Erreen and afterwards, in a room without the influence of outdoor effects a pure grev Th& reader must therefore feel some sympathy with the artist who has to reproduce such chameleon-hke changes in the coat of a single animal. |