WOOL- AND FUR-BEARING ANIMALS 271 



little creatures are always worth watching. They take cover at the 

 slightest alarm, one of the number being told off as a sort of scout. 

 As soon as danger is ahead the scout gives the alarm, and the 

 animals scuttle into their burrows in double-quick time, stopping 

 temporarily at the entrances to ascertain if it is only a false alarm. 

 It may be that after only once being disturbed the Marmots will soon 

 make their appearance again, but if further disturbance takes place 

 they go to cover a second time, and rarely show themselves any more 

 for several hours. 



During the Winter the Marmot closes up the entrances to its 

 burrows, and remains underground until it is time to be out and 

 about again. A supply of food is stored up, and the animal feeds 

 until it is fat enough to retire for a lengthy sleep of some months' 

 duration. It is at this time that the fur is in best condition, and, in 

 consequence of this, the Marmot is then sought after by the hunter. 

 SEALS.— Although the Californian Sea Lion (Fig. 215 and 

 Coloured Plate XVI) is not one of the Fur-Bearing Seals, it repre- 

 sents the type, and as such may be accorded a place in this part of 

 our work. This is a prominent carnivorous animal of the sea, and 

 belongs to the Pinnipedia, from the Latin pinna, a fin, and pes, 

 pedis, a foot. Among the Pinnipedia acquaintance may be made 

 with the various species known as Seals, also the Sea Leopard, Sea 

 Elephant, Sea Lion, Sea Bear, or Northern Fur Seal, and the 

 Walrus. 



Important, useful and highly interesting as these fin-footed 

 animals are, it is not possible to treat of all the species here, for 

 they are split up into different sections which would demand lengthy 

 descriptions and technical details outside the scope of this book. 

 Shortly stated, there are three main groups, consisting of the true or 

 Earless Seals, the Eared Seals and the Walrus, or, as the fur-trader 

 adopts, the Hair Seals, Fur Seals and the Walrus, the latter being 

 probably the only member of the Trichechidas (see also reference on 



P- 59)- 



Admirably adapted for an aquatic life, but ungainly and awkward 

 in their movements upon land, Seals dive and swim with amazing 

 cleverness, and visitors to Zoological Gardens where any of these 

 beasts are on view may see for themselves the remarkable evolutions 

 they undergo at feeding-time. 



If a Seal be examined at close quarters, the short limbs, arranged 

 after the manner of the pectoral fins and tail of a fish ; close, rounded 



