OTARIID^ 203 



They seemed tO' have hard work to crawl on the rock, and when 

 up did not stay long in one position, but uneasily rolled about or 

 slid back in the water. I saw one huge fellow crawl to a flat edge 

 overhanging deep water and suddenly throw his fore parts up in 

 the air and leap, just as a man would in diving, using his hind 

 flippers to make the spring. Usually they slid down into the wa- 

 ter head first. 



"In the open space between the rocks and islets was a group ot 

 a dozen or so, rolling about in the waves and seeming to enjoy life 

 hugely. They swam either side up or on their sides, heads rolling 

 from side to side, flippers sticking out of the w-ater here and 

 there, a picture of perfect ease and contentment. Now and then 

 they would tire of t'lie idle pastime and commence romping; div- 

 ing and chasing one another about, or leaping out of the water 

 porpoise fashion. Once I saw a rather small one spring straight 

 out of the water clear of the surface. 



"At a distance a number of these Sea Lions crawling over the 

 rocks, or slowly swaying their heads about as they often do, look 

 like gigantic maggots, but at close quarters t'liey lose that appear- 

 ance. In the water the younger animals have a pleasant dog-like 

 air as the head and shoulders appear above the water. 



"The usual loud cry is a syllable sounding like 'hong' re- 

 peated sonorously, and has some resemblance to the hoarse bark 

 of a dog. These sounds are oftenest made when the animal is 

 lying on the rocks, but sometimes a swimmer takes up the bark. 

 This occured several times near me. In these cases at least the 

 animal did not close its mouth after each repetition of the note, 

 but steadily held the mouth wide open, the head being held well 

 out of the water. The vocalization all came from the throat, witlT 

 no apparent modulation through action of the mouth or lips. Be- 

 sides this repetition of t'he 'hong' I heard another sound a few 

 times, a curious bleat, not loud, but to me, with a comical tone 

 that always provoked a laugh. It always came suddenly, which 

 was perhaps why it sounded so funny. This sound may have been 

 made by a female. 



