Evening star., 1897-06-05
RARE WEST INDIAN SEALS.
a9Ta hA-
Two InterezffntP specimens Now .
theezodsoKicaf Park.

TWO Antereaftnt& Specimens Now At
theS HoJsDEicaf Park.
OF the many Samdred visitors to the
Geological Park who were entertained lase
Sunday by thesanties Of the nev ps2r q
seals. probabh, %Ay few were aware that
A largo csrI IL fke mont OF their tank
bore tie following legend:
West Indiahaseal. Monachus tropicalis.
gray. HabitRt: udIf of Mexico and Carfb-
bean sea, frdm the Bahama Islands to the
coast of Yucs5an and Honduras"
The label did NM say. as It might have
done. that tAis Zeal was the first large
animal of thet american continent that was
known by Europ&hns During Columbus
voyage to the West Indias In 1494, he an
chored of theesoutAern coast Of Hispaniola,
near little NisFand which he called Alta
Vela. Several Fseamen were ordered to
climb to the, top Of the island. and on
their return they killed eight sea wolves"
which were sleeping on the sands. At that
time the seals must have been very abund-
ant In all the region between the Bahama
Islands and the Central American coast,
for Dampier, writing IN 1916 of the Alacran
Islands near Yucatan, says: Here are
selves only on two or three OF the ISLANDS
In 1907 Sir Hans Sloane, writing on the
natural history Of Jamaica, says: The
Bahama IslaEds are filed with Seals; some
times Fishers win catch 100 In night
They try or melt them. and bring on their
Oyl for Lamps to the Islards
This oil industry seems to have nearly
exterminated the seal, for the animal has
been almost unknown since that time.
The single individuals secured at long
intervals have been among the most priced
treasures Of the great museums. and II
was not until very recently that COM
plete specimen could be obtained upon
which to base a scientific description OF
the animal This specimen was received
at the National Museum from Prof. Felipe
Poey Of Havana and was described by
Profs True and Lucas of that Institution.
The only places now known to De In.
habited by these seals are few little coral
islands OF the north coast OF fucatan
Here, free from molestation, lives little
remnant which survived the first fierce
persecution. Now the oil Is no longer
wanted, and as their coats are valueless
man has no incentive to hunt them down
Fishermen go to these islands but rarely.
and then only out OF curiosity. 1t is to
one Of these visits that the Geological
Park owes It's pair Of seals. The fshefmen
who obtained them report the animals as
utterly devoid of fear, not moving when
approached and allowing themselves to be
handled with no sign Of alarm.
The park Is fortunate in having secured
both male and female Of this rare species
The two animals are Of about equal size.
FIVE feet long or a little less, and would
weigh in the neighborhood Of $50 pounds
Both are Of dark. leaden brown above
with underparts somewhat lighter. Inc
male has conspicuous white muzzle and
breast. which at once distinguish him from
his mate. Both sexes when adult are said
to attain a length of from seven to eight
feet, and weight Of 400 or 500 pounds
When out Of the water they progress by
series Of quick bitches. making no use OF
the flippers. This Is evidently serious
exertion as they will go but a few feet
before stopping to rest In the water. how
ever. they are models of ease and agility.
gliding back and forth, diving and rolling
or standing with head and shoulders out
Of the water to look about. The valve-Nke
nostrils are tightly shut as the animal
goes under. and open with pun as 1t
comes to the surface The female has
penchant for swimming on her back, and
in circling tho tank invariably makes the
return in that manner to her starting
point 3
= For animals that have been in captivity
but few days they are surprisingly tame,
and they certainly bear out the character
given them by the fishermen. They come
up promptly to inspect q fish that Is held
out to them. but refuse 1t until dropped
into the water. Then 1t Is seized and put
through long process of biting and shak-
ing through the water, till fairly macerated
before it Is finally eaten. Altogether these
seals are most Interesting animals. and
the Geological Park Is fortunate in secur-
ing the first specimens ever exhibited in
ZOOlOgical garden.