Phocid Research Articles

Remains of a Fossil Phocid from Plattsburg, New York

Remains of a Fossil Phocid from Plattsburg, New York

VIII.—Measurements and Weights of Antarctic Seals taken by the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.

During the voyage of the Scotia in the Weddell Sea, and during her wintering at Scotia Bay, South Orkneys, I measured as many of the seals taken as possible. I was usually assisted in this work by Mr WILTON. When a seal was killed near the ship, and it could be arranged, I also weighed them both in whole and in part, weighing the different viscera as at a human post-mortem examination. The results of these investigations are now summarised in tabular form, which makes it easy at a glance to make comparisons. In addition to the measurements and weights of the true seals of the Antarctic regions, those of a fine specimen of Otaria jubata (the Patagonian Sea-lion) secured at the Falkland Islands are also given.

A Walk Through the Zoological Gardens

IT is not by any means abundantly clear that a guide to the Zoological Society's Gardens is needed, inasmuch as there already exists the well-known and accurate guide to the Society's collection by Mr. Sclater. Although it is true that the author does not call his book a “guide” in the title, he nevertheless observes in the preface that it is his object “to conduct the reader from house to house and from paddock to paddock, pointing out the chief features of interest” on the way. We must, therefore, consider the book as intended to be a guide. As such it does not appear to us to be at all informing; it would have been well, too, to avoid positive error. The author alls a sea-lion a seal, which—seeing that true seals are often exhibited—is confusing. The African Mudfish, Protopterus, often on view in the Reptile house, is dubbed Lepidosiren, which we need scarcely explain, is a South American Dipnoan. There are other errors of fact, and certain statements which are so loose and confused that they are practically erroneous. It is naturally impossible in a small book like the present to give an exhaustive account of all the animals to be seen in the course of a year or two in the Gardens. But the author leaves out so many important beasts that he fails to convey a real notion of the extent and variety of the collection. By cutting out the tale of how he rescued a blue pencil from a cormorant, which afterwards swallowed a lady's parasol, and by forbearing to mention that porcupines “pare their teeth on elephants’ tusks” (!), and generally by avoiding gossip of a totally uninteresting and equally uninstructive kind, Mr. Aflalo might have grappled more successfully with the immense amount of material at his disposal.

The Habits of Ice-Seals

THERE are four species of earless, or true seals inhabiting the boreal part of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans which may well be designated ice-seals, since they dwell for a considerable portion of the year either on the solid pack-ice or on ice-floes. These species are the Greenland or harp-seal (Phoca grænlandica), often termed, on account of the conspicuous black markings on the yellowish-white ground-colour of the back, the saddle-back; the ringed seal (P. hispida); the large bearded seal, or square-flipper (P. barbata); and the crested, or hooded seal (Cystopkora cristata), the males of which carry the peculiar dilatable sac on the nose from which the species derives its names. The first three of these are closely allied forms, but it is not a little remarkable that whenever the young of the first and second are born in a uniform yellowish-white coat, those of the third make their appearance in the world in a dark pélage; the white coat being not improbably shed in utero. It is commonly believed that the young of the fourth species are also white-coated, as are certainly those of the more southern grey seal (Halichærus grypus). If a white coat serves as a protection to the new-born “pup” on the ice, it is difficult to see why this type of coloration should have been departed from in the case of one species. But the whole subject is one of great difficulty, as the white-coated young of the grey seal may often be seen in the Hebrides reposing on black rocks. All the four species in question agree in the circumstance that the young are produced during their sojourn on the ice; but in other respects very considerable differences are displayed in regard to habits.

Remarks on the bear valley coal district, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania

This chapter explores the characteristics, distribution, and behavior and conservation status of the ringed seal. They are among the smallest of pinnipeds, with adults reaching a maximum length of 1.3–1.5 m and weighing up to 100 kg prior to breeding. Males and females are similar in size. It is a member of the subfamily Phocinae of the family Phocidae. The ringed seal is northern circumpolar in distribution. Although often considered as an inshore species, they have been observed at the North Pole and large numbers of animals are found in stable offshore pack ice in polar regions. Seal ecology is characterized by marine feeding combined with a need to haul out on a solid substrate for reproduction or molting. Although hauled out under these conditions they are often concentrated in large numbers, which facilitates attempts to estimate abundance using aerial surveys. Higher densities of ringed seals are observed in areas that combine stable first-year ice with a certain amount of irregular features such as pressure ridging or frozen in pieces of ice that would encourage snowdrift formation. Mating occurs in the water, and males are thought to defend underwater territories around a few females, but this has not been observed directly. There is some evidence of philopatry among mature animals, but juveniles may undertake extensive movements. Unlike many other seal species, ringed seals tend to be solitary and are widely dispersed, which provides some protection from direct commercial exploitation. The presence of stable ice and sufficient snow for the snow lairs is important for pup growth and survival.