414 THE SEA ELEPHANT. 



spread through a considerable range of country. It is extensively hunted for the sake of its 

 skin and its oil, both of which are of very excellent quality, and, from the enormous size of the 

 animal, can be procured in large quantities. It is not exclusively confined to the sea, but is 

 also fond of haunting fresh-water lakes, or swampy ground. 



It is an emigrating animal, moving southwards as the summer comes on, and northwards 

 when the cold weather of the winter months would make its more southern retreats unendur- 

 able. Their first emigration is generally made in the middle of June, when the females become 

 mothers, and remain in charge of their nurseries for nearly two months. During this time the 

 males are said to form a cordon between their mates and the sea, in order to prevent them 

 from deserting their young charges. At the expiration of this time, the males relax their 

 supervision, and the whole family luxuriates together in the sea, where the mothers soon 

 regain their lost condition. They then seek the shore afresh, and occupy themselves in set- 

 tling their matrimonial alliances, which are understood on the principle that the strongest 

 shall make his choice among the opposite sex, and that the weakest may take those that are 

 rejected by his conquerors, or none at all, as the case may be. 



During the season of courtship the males fight desperately with each other, inflicting 

 fearful wounds with their tusk -like teeth, while the females remain aloof, as quiet spectators 

 of the combat. They are polygamous animals, each male being lord over a considerable num- 

 ber of females, whom he rules with despotic sway. When the victorious combatants have 

 chosen their mates, they are very careful about their safety, and refuse to quit them if they 

 should be in any danger. Knowing this fact, the Seal-hunters always direct their attacks 

 upon the females, being sure to capture the male afterwards. If they were to kill the male 

 at first, his harem would immediately disperse and fly in terror, but as long as he lives, they 

 will continue to crowd round him. 



Although these animals are of so great dimensions and bodily strength, and are furnished 

 with a very formidable set of teeth, they are not nearly such dangerous antagonists as the 

 walrus, and are most apathetic in their habits. When roused from sleep they open their 

 mouths in a threatening manner, but do not seem to think of using their teeth, and if they 

 find that their disturbers do not run away, they take that office upon themselves, and move 

 off deliberately for the water. As they proceed their huge bodies tremble like masses of jelly, 

 in consequence of the fat with which they are so heavily laden. So plentiful is this fat, that 

 a single adult male will furnish about seventy gallons of clear and scentless oil. 



The extraordinary development of the nose, which gives so weird-like a character to the 

 aspect of the Elephant Seal, is only found in the adult males, and even in them is not very 

 perceptible unless the animal is alarmed or excited. While the creature is undisturbed, the 

 nose only looks peculiarly large and heavy. As soon, however, as the animal becomes excited, 

 it protrudes this proboscis-like nose, blows through it with great violence, and assumes a 

 very formidable appearance. The female is entirely destitute of this structure, as may be 

 seen in the figure that occupies the background of our illustration. Except for its enormous 

 dimensions the female might be taken for an ordinary Seal. In the male the hood does not 

 make its appearance until the third year. 



The Elephant Seal is easily tamed when taken young, and displays great affection towards 

 a kind master. One of these animals was tamed by an English seaman, and would permit 

 its master to mount upon its back, or to put his hand into its mouth, without doing him any 

 injury. 



The teeth of this animal are very curious in their formation, especially the molar teeth, 

 which are small, and pointed with a kind of mushroom-like apex. The canines are very large. 

 The whisker hairs are very coarse and long, and are furnished with a raised margin, which 

 gives them the appearance of being twisted like a screw. The food of the Elephant Seal is 

 supposed to consist chiefly of cuttle-fish and sea- weed, as the remains of both these substances 

 are generally found in the stomachs of those that are killed. 



