ELEPHANT-SEAL

the Proboscis Seal, or Sea-elephant, the largest of the seal family (Phocids). There are probably two species, one (Jlacrorhinus an gus tiro str is) found only on the coast of California and Western Mexico, the other (AMacrorhinus leon in us) found in Patagonia, Kerguelen Island, Heard’s Island, and other parts of the Southern Seas. They vary in length from 12 to 39 feet, and in girth at the chest from 8 to 18 feet. The proboscis of the male is about a foot long when the creature is at rest, but elongates under excitement. The females have no proboscis and are considerably smaller than the male. Both species are becoming rare owing to the wholesale slaughter of them which takes place.