THK PROBOSCIS-SEAL, OR SEA-ELEPHANT. 169 



semblance in its nature to that of a man when he gargles. 

 This hoarse and singular cry is heard from a great distance ; 

 it carries with it something wild and fearful ; and when in 

 the middle of the stormy nights of which we spoke in the 

 preceding chapter, we found ourselves suddenly awoke by the 

 confused roarings of countless colossal forms, which covered 

 the sands in the vicinity of our tents, it was with difficulty we 

 could repress a feeling of uneasiness and apprehension^ which 

 nothing, indeed, but the certainty of the real impotence of 

 these creatures could dissipate. 



" Whilst the periodical migrations of the proboscis -seal 

 clearly prove that it is obnoxious to too great heat, there is 

 also another circumstance in its habits which equally indi- 

 cates this repugnance. When one of these creatures reposes 

 at full length along the sand, and finds itself incommoded 

 with the sun's rays, it may be seen repeatedly lifting with its 

 fore-flippers great quantities of sand moistened with sea 

 water, and throwing the same over its body until it has com- 

 pletely covered itself. It is in this state that we are apt, with 

 Foster, to take the sea-elephants for so many large rocks. 



" The greater part of the external senses seem possessed of 

 little subtilty in these Amphibia. The flattening of the eye, 

 the very remarkable density of the vitreous humour, as ob- 

 served by M. de Labillardiere, the not less extraordinary 

 density of the crystalline lens, — all indicate that the organ of 

 vision, though perfectly adapted to the nature of the denser 

 medium in which these animals are especially destined to 

 exist, is on that account less calculated to be of use to them 

 in another element; so we find them, especially on first quit- 

 ting the sea, unable to distinguish objects except at very short 

 distances. With respect to the ear, the deficiency of auricles 

 contributes perhaps to the deterioration of their sense of 

 hearing, which seems to be but dull. 



" The sea-elephants are of an extremely easy and gentle 

 disposition ; one may wander among them without fear ; and 

 they never attempt to hurt any one, unless when attacked, 

 or provoked in a very violent manner. It is not only on shore 

 that they manifest this character of mildness and innocence ; 

 we have been told by the fishermen that young seals of a 

 much smaller species than the present are frequently seen 

 swimming in the midst of these amphibious monsters, with- 

 out their offering the slightest injury to the feeble strangers. 

 Even men may bathe with impunity in the waters where the 

 sea-elephants congregate, without having anything to fear, 

 and the fishermen are accustomed to do so. 



" It would seem also that these animals are susceptible of 

 a real attachment, and of a kind of peculiar education. An 



