292 



TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



that the whole family are easily destroyed, though the 

 hood of the male affords such a protection to its owner 

 as to render the animal hard to kill with any ordinary 

 club. 



The largest and most singular of the seals is the 

 sea-elephant, which attains the length of nearly twenty 

 feet. The nose of the adult male is prolonged into a 

 short, tubular proboscis. This ordinarily hangs down, 

 but can be dilated and prolonged under excitement. Its 

 hind feet are devoid of nails. It was formerly abundant 



FIG. 76. 



mi. 



* ^-K^< li ;.::,..<! I .!. ..,-," : Kfa/' 



THE SEA-ELEPHANT. 



in the Antarctic Seas, and also on the coast of California. 

 There are two varieties, one confined to Western Mexico 

 and Southern California, while the other is found in the 

 Indian and South Pacific Oceans and the Antarctic 

 Seas. 



The former variety is the smaller one. It was 

 formerly very abundant on the Mexican and Californian 

 coasts, but has become nearly extirpated. Captain 

 Scammon, who in 1852 had command of a sealing brig, 

 has given the following account of the chase of these 

 animals : 



