Supplement to the catalogue of seals and whales in the British Museum

Published in 1871 as an addendum to the British Museum’s main marine mammal catalogue, this supplement records the latest Victorian findings on seals, sea lions and whales. It follows the period’s detailed classification scheme, listing each animal by suborder, family, tribe and genus, and noting its recorded distribution from the North Sea to the Antarctic. The entries include both familiar species and more obscure or doubtful names, reflecting the expanding knowledge of the era.

The work is a useful reference for students of zoology, historians of science, and anyone intrigued by 19th‑century natural history literature. Its clear, column‑style layout lets listeners locate a species quickly and see the brief geographic notes that accompanied each entry. While primarily a taxonomic record, the supplement also offers a glimpse into the exploratory voyages and museum acquisitions that fed early marine research.