OTARIIDJE. ZALOPHUS. 539 



groove; postorbital processes developed; alisphenoid canal present; 

 testes external in a scrotum. 



The Sea-lions are among the largest of aquatic animals, a full- 

 grown male being over thirteen feet in length, and with an average 

 weight of one thousand pounds. They are generally found in large 

 herds, sunning themselves, or sleeping on the rocks near the sea, into 

 which they plunge when alarmed. The sound of their deep growling, 

 or loud roars, is constantly vibrating among the rocky islands to 

 which they are accustomed to resort, and betrays their presence to 

 any one in the vicinity. Sea-lions are not courageous as a rule in 

 the presence of man, and make the most violent efforts to escape if 

 on land, but once in the water their curiosity overpowers to a great 

 degree their fears, and they swim about, lifting themselves half out 

 of water at times, in order to obtain a good look at the unwelcome 

 intruder. They are valuable animals to the natives, who make 

 waterproof clothing and various other articles from the skins, sinews, 

 and intestines. 



1O4. Zalophus. Sea-lion. 



Zalophus Gill, Proc. Essex Instit., 1866, v, p. 7. Type Otaria gil- 

 lespii McBain = Otaria californiana Lesson. 



Neophoca Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 3d Ser., xvm, 1866, p. 231. 



Head rounded; nose narrow, pointed; eyes large; ears rather 

 long, narrow, pointed; skin of feet extending beyond the nails, the 

 margin lobed. Canines large, curved, acute; palate ends beyond the 

 pterygoid processes, and is nearly flat, emarginate behind; posterior 

 border of nasals extending beyond zygoma ; pterygoid processes hook- 

 like; upper molar separated by a wide space from premolars. No 

 space between molars. 



508. californianus (Otaria), Less., Diet. Class. Hist. Nat., xm, 1828, 

 p. 420. Elliot, Syn. N. Am. Mamm., 1901, p. 356. 



gillespii M'Bain, Proc. Edinb. Roy Soc., i, 1858, p. 422. 

 CALIFORNIA SEA-LION. 



Type locality. California. 



Geogr. Distr. From Coronados Islands and Tres Marias Islands, 

 and coast of Lower California, Mexico, along Pacific coast, to Bay of 

 San Francisco, California. 



Gent. Char. Skull: facial portion elongate, slender; zygomatic 

 breadth less than half the length of skull; postorbital processes long, 

 narrow, and directed backward in old animals; molars usually 

 closely approximate, sagittal and occipital crests highly developed. 



