Ctí. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 225 



the neck ; then seizing it by the head, and putting 

 their fore-feet between the skin and the flesh, they 

 strip it entirely off, and then devour the carcase. 



The largest kind, as we have already observed, 

 are, by the sailors, called sea-lions, the hair of the 

 neck distinguishing them from the others, and has 

 some resemblance to a mane, though not much 

 longer than that on the other parts of the animal ; 

 but as their whole body has a greater similarity to that 

 of the wolf, and being entirely like the other species, 

 the name of sea-wolf seems to be more proper than 

 that given them by the seamen. 



All these kinds of sea-wolv^es have so tender a 

 sensation at the extremity of their nostrils, that though 

 they will bear many wounds in other parts of the body, 

 the slightest stroke on this dispatches them ; and that 

 they are sensible of it, is evident from their making 

 it their chief care to defend that part from any violence. 



A GREAT singularity is also observable in the dogs 

 of this island, namely, that they never bark. We 

 caught some of them, and brought them on board ; 

 but they never made any noise till joined with some 

 tame dogs, and then indeed they began to imitate 

 them, but in a strange manner, as if learning a thing 

 not natural to them. 



The islands of Juan Fernandes abound greatly in 

 fish; among which are two species, not observed in 

 any other part of this vast sea. One is the cod, which, 

 though not absolutely like that of Newfoundland, the 

 difference is very minute, either with regard to co- 

 lour, form, taste, and even the small scales observable 

 on that fish. They are of different sizes, but the 

 largest three or four feet in length. 



The other species is a fish resembling the tollo in 

 shape, but much more palateable. From the fore 

 part of each of the two fins on its back, grows a 

 kind of triangular spur, a little bent, but round near 

 the back, and terminating in a point. It has a fine 

 gloss, and the hardness of a bone. At the root of it 



Vol. IL Q Í5 



