XV.] 



VISIT TO A " ROOKERY." 



615 



panied by our guide, close to a herd lying a little apart. The 

 older animals became at first somewhat uneasy when they 

 observed our approach, but they soon settled down completely, 

 and we had now the pleasure of beholding a peculiar spectacle. 

 We were the only spectators. The scene consisted of a beach 

 covered with stones and washed by foaming breakers, the back- 

 ground of the immeasurable ocean, and the actors of thousands 

 of wonderfully-formed animals. A number of old males lay 

 still and motionless, heedless of what was going on around 

 them. Others crept clumsily on their small short legs between 



SLAUGHTER OF SEA-BEARS. 



(After a drawing by H. W. Elliott.) 



the stones of the beach, or swam with incredible agility among 

 the breakers, played, caressed each other, and quarrelled. At 

 one place two old animals fought, uttering a jjeculiar hissing 

 sound, and in such a way as if the attack and defence had 

 been carried out in studied attitudes. At another place a 

 feigned combat was going on between an old and a young 

 animal. It looked as if the latter was being instructed in the 

 art of fighting. Everywhere the small black young ones crept 

 constantly backwards and forwards among the old sea-bears, now 

 and then blcatinfr like lambs calling on their mothers. The 



