200 ■ CALIFORNIA MAMMADS. 



beaches in preference to sandy beaches or rocky islets. They are 

 said to be monogamous. Tlie young are born, in May and June. 

 Captain Scammon, to whom we are indebted for nearly all our 

 information about this species, says that the sound made by them 

 when alarmed resembled the lowing of an ox, but was more 

 prolonged. 



California Elephant Seal. 



They were large and easily obtained, and produced a con- 

 siderable amount of oil, two hundred gallons sometimes being- 

 obtained from a single individual. Therefore they were much 

 sought after in the period succeeding the discovery of gold im 

 California, previous to the general use of coal oil. In this period 

 vessels were freighted with their oil, and in consequence of this 

 reckless slaughter the species w-as practically exterminated in a 

 few years. The California Elephant Seals while formerly abun- 

 dant locally, were few compared with the enormous numbers of 

 the Southern Elephant Seals that were found on islands of the 

 i\ntarctic Ocean when these were discovered. 



