Various Names--Peculiarities of Distribution--Characteristics of the Family--Dentition--Skull--Fossil Remains--Distinction between Fur and Hair Seals--Preparation of the Seal-skin--THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL--History--The Pribyloff Islands--Male, Female, Young--“Hauling-grounds”--Wintering--Males at the Islands in Spring--Desperate Battles for Seaward Positions--Approach of the Females--Struggles for Wives--The Young--Abstinence from Food, Water, and Sleep for more than Two Months--Neutral Ground in the “Rookeries”--Habits of the Young--Food--Annual Slaughter--Estimated Numbers--Mode of Killing--STELLER’S SEA LION--GILLIESPIE’S HAIR SEAL--HOOKER’S SEA BEAR--The Wreck of the _Grafton_--Musgrave’s Narrative--Sufferings of the Castaways--Their Experiences among the Sea Bears--THE WHITE-NECKED OTARY--Distribution--Description--“Counsellor Seal”--THE PATAGONIAN SEA LION--Historical Associations--Impetus to the Study of the Family--François Lecomte--Its Docility and Intelligence--Its various Performances--Voracity--Lecomte’s Observations--Habits--THE FALKLAND ISLAND FUR SEAL--Habitat--The Hunter’s Boats--Driven from their Haunts--Captain Weddell’s Observations--Great Wariness and Speed--Size--Habits--THE SOUTH AFRICAN, OR CAPE FUR SEAL--THE NEW ZEALAND FUR SEAL--THE ASH-COLOURED OTARY--Peron’s Services to Science 216 CHAPTER III. III.--THE EARLESS SEAL FAMILY (PHOCIDÆ). General Characteristics--Peculiar Formation of the Hind Legs--Dentition--Swimming--THE COMMON SEAL--Range--Fight between a Seal and Salmon--Colour--Appearance--Annual Catch--Use of Skins in Greenland--Habits--THE RINGED SEAL--Appearance--Various Names--Odour--Flesh--Skin Clothes--Haunts--Modes of Capture--Range--THE GREENLAND, OR SADDLEBACK SEAL--Habits--Appearance--Names--Range--Migrations--“Seals’ Weddings”--Five Stages of Colour--Females--Weight--Seal Fisheries--Hunting--Implements of Slaughter--Various Operations--The Sealers--Oil, Skins, &c.--THE BEARDED SEAL--THE GREY SEAL--THE MONK SEAL--THE CRESTED OR BLADDER-NOSE SEAL--Range--Size--Ferocity--Character of the so-called Crest--Dentition--Colour--THE ELEPHANT SEAL--Peculiar Range--Proboscis--Scammon’s Account--Habits--Hunting--Hardships of the Hunters--Recreations of the Men--Blubber, Oil, and Skins--ROSS’S LARGE-EYED SEAL--THE SEA LEOPARD--WEDDELL’S SEAL--THE CRAB-EATING SEAL--Concluding Remarks--The Slaughter of Seals--Remedies 231 ORDER CETACEA.--WHALES.