SEA-LION ROOKERIES 



l8l 



of Avalon on the little bay of that name, swam alongshore, 

 leaping and diving, and went up the island no one knew 

 how far ; but so many fishes are brought into Avalon now 

 that the herd, or two large bulls and a number of females, 

 come up to Avalon every day and take part in a remark- 

 able exhibition — that of being fed from the beach by the 

 boatmen. 



The herd is in the water eight or ten feet from the shore 

 leaping and playing, the young and females gamboling like 



-—. — ij ■jk-ji. 



Fig. 173. — Sea Lions: Male (right) and Female. 



sea otters, darting out of the water two or three at a time 

 in a most graceful series of movements ; while the pon- 

 derous bulls, which appear to weigh at least half a ton 

 each, hover about waiting for an invitation from the beach 

 to land. 



This soon comes. A tourist asks if they are really wild 

 sea lions, and if they are tame. At this a man takes an 

 albacore from a hook and walks down to the water, out of 

 which comes the extraordinary bull sea lion known as 



