At the same time Mr. Allen ventures to remark, “perhaps the A. cinereus and the A. antarcticus are to be referred to the A. falklandicus, in which case the habitat of this species is the southern seas generally” (Bull. Comp. Zool. ii. p. 45): but he does not seem to have had specimens of any of the three species; otherwise I do not think he would have ventured upon the observation.
Unfortunately, having no skull or other parts of the Lion Seal of the Auckland Islands (the most southern of the New-Zealand group), we are not able to determine whether it is the same species as the Sea-lion of the southern end of the American continent (Otaria jubata), or whether it is the Sea-lion of the southern end of the African continent (Arctocephalus antarcticus), or the Sea-lion of the Northern Australian Seas (Neophoca lobata).
5. Arctocephalus falklandicus.
Fur very soft, elastic; hairs very short, exceedingly close, slender at the base, thicker above, with close reddish under-fur nearly as long as the hair; the upper surface pale, nearly uniform grey, minutely punctulated with white; hairs brown, upper half black, with minute white tips. The nose, cheeks, temples, throat, chest, sides, and underside of the body yellowish white.
Falkland Seal, Penn. Quad. ii.
Phoca falklandica, Shaw, Gen. Zool. i. p. 256 (from Pennant).
Otaria falklandica, Desm. Mamm. p. 252 (from Pennant; not Peters or Burmeister).
Otaria Shawii, Lesson, Dict. Class. d’H. N. xiii. p. 424 (from Pennant).
Arctocephalus falklandicus, Gray, Cat. Mam. in Brit. Mus., Seals, p. 42; Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1868, i. p. 103.
Fur-Seal of Commerce (Otaria falklandica), Hamilton, Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1838, ii. p. 81, t. 41; Jardine, Nat. Lib. vi. p. 271, t. 25 (not Peters).