The males of these animals are described as twice as long and broad (that is, four times as large) as the females. This may explain the difference in size of the skulls from the same localities.
The fur changes its colour as the animal grows, the young being generally black; and the adult males and females also differ considerably in the colour of the fur.
The skulls of the following species are not known:—
4. Arctocephalus Forsteri.
Grinders 6/5·6/5, conical.
Arctocephalus Fosteri, Fischer; Gray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1868, i. p. 219.
Phoca ursina, J. R. Forster.
Inhab. Cloudy Bay, New Zealand.
This animal is only known from Dr. Forster’s description and figure.
Mr. Allen observes, “I can see no evidence of the New-Zealand Fur-Seal (of Forster) being specifically distinct from the Fur-Seal of Australia, A. cinereus (auct.).”—Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. ii. p. 15.