THE SEA ELEPHANT: HABITS. 73 



Captain Scammon gives the length of a "new born pnp" as four feet. 



HABITS. We are indebted to Captain Scainmon, who lias fortunately had favorable oppor- 

 tunities for observation, for everything of importance that has thus far been recorded respecting 

 the habits of the Sea Elephant of California. "The habits of these huge beasts," lie tells us, 1 

 "when on shore, or loitering about the foaming breakers, are in many respects likf those of the 

 Leopard Seals [Phoca vitulina]. Our observations on the Sea Elephants of California go to show 

 that they have been found in much larger numbers from February to June than during other 

 months of the year; but more or less were at all times found on shore pon their favorite beaches, 

 which were^about the islands of Saiita Barbara, Cerros, Guadalupe, San Bonitos, Nalividad, San 

 1'oque, and Asuncion, and some of the most inaccessible points on the mainland between Asuncion 

 and Cerros. "When coming up out of the water, they were generally first seen near the line of surf; 

 then crawling up by degrees, frequently reclining as if to sleep; again moviug up or along the 

 shore, appearing not content with their last resting place. In this manner they would ascend the 

 ravines, or -low-downs,' half a mile or more, congregating by hundreds. They are not so active on 

 land as the.Sea's; but, when excited to inordinate exertion, their motions are quick the whole 

 body quivering with their crawling, semi vaulting gait, and the animal at such limes manifesting 

 great fatigue. Notwithstanding their unwieldiness, we have sometimes found them on broken and 

 elevated ground, tifty or sixty feet above the sea. 



"The principal seasons of their coining on shore are, when they are about to shed their coats, 

 when the females bring forth their young (which is one at a time, rarely two), and the mating 

 season. These seasons for 'hauling up' are more marked in southern latitudes. The different 

 periods are known among the hunters as the 'pupping cow,' 'brown cow,' 'bull and cow,' and 

 ' March bull' seasons; 2 but on the California coast, either from the influence of clinr.ite or some 

 other cause, we have noticed young pups with their mothers at quite the opposite montha. The 

 continual hunting of the animals may possibly have driven them to irregularities. The time of 

 gestation is supposed to be about three-fourths of the year. The most marked season we could 

 discover was that of the adult males, which shed their coats later than the younger ones and the 

 females. Still, among a herd of the largest of those fully matin cd (at Santa Barbara Island, in 

 tin ne, 1S52), we found several cows and their young, the latter apparently but a few days old. 



"When the Sea Elephants come on shore for the purpose of 'shedding,' if not disturbed they 

 remain out of water until the old hair falls off. By the time this change comes about, the animal 

 is supposed to lose half its fat; indeed, it sometimes becomes very thin, and is then called a 

 'slimskin.' 



"In the stomach of the Sea Elephant a few pebbles are found, \\hich has given rise to the 

 Haying that 'they take in ballast before going down' (returning to the sea). On warm and sunny 

 days we have watched them come up singly on smooth beaches and burrow in the d;\ sai.d. 

 throwing over their backs the loose particles that collect about their fore limbs, and nearly covering 

 themselves from view; but when not disturbed, the animals follow their gregarious propensity , aud 

 collect in large herds." "The largest number I ever found in one herd," he states in another 

 connection', "was one hundred and sixty-live, which lay promiscuously along the beach or up 

 ravine near by." 



'Minim- Mammals, l.-C-l, pp. 1 17-111). S. < also I'toc. Acitd. Nat. Sri. 1'hilii., l-ti'.l. |ip. (i:'.-i .", v. In . 1 1,,. : ,, 

 hrn 1 <|imtcd was I'u-Kf published. Sri- tint her .1. !{<s l!ro m-'s " II. M>ur. < sal the Paeilic I 'mist " [ Append. ]. p. 1 .!'. v. IH-IV 

 tin- KHitu- unihor has also ^ivi-n :i short account nf its hal.ils lie ol-scrvecl at Cedros (or OITOS) Island in 1-vV.'. AUc an 

 article entitled "Sen-elephant. Ihintinjr," in the "Overland Monthly," iii, pp. ll-J-117. No\., ISO 



- KHeirini; in the huliits, ol Ilic Southern Si ;i Lit pliant (.\JiKivrliiiiii* letHlimut), as In- hail "learned iVoin ship- 

 masters who have taken Seals about Kerguelen'u l.iuid, tin- ('ri'/rts, and IIurd'H Island.'' Srr I'rur. Acini. Nal , s,i. 

 Pliiln., Hn'.l, p. (M. 



