108 SEA-LION ADVENTUEE. 



species. The settlers and others call them rooks, and 

 another very common carrion bird of the vulture 

 family (Cathartes A^ira), is known here as the john- 

 crow. On board the ship the sig"ht of some quarters 

 of beef secured to the mizen cross-trees had attracted 

 numbers of these hawks^ and upwards of a dozen 

 mig'ht have been seen at one time perched upon the 

 rig-g'ing*; including' one on each truck ] on shore they 

 made several attacks upon a pile of g'eese lying- near the 

 boat^ and although repeatedly driven off with stones^ 

 the}' returned as often to make a fresh attempt. 



July 25th. — Yesterday afternoon some of our 

 people employed in cutting* grass upon a small island 

 close to the ship^ stumbled upon a huge sea-lion 

 asleep in one of the pit-like recesses among' the 

 tussocks. At first it was supposed to be a dead 

 bullock^ but the beast on being- disturbed rose upon 

 his fore flippers^ and^ displaying' a formidable array 

 of teeth, roared loudly* at the disturbers of his 

 rest^ who^ being unarmed, rushed helter-skelter to 

 the boat and went off to the ship. They returned 

 immediately with an assortment of pikes, muskets, 

 and pistols sufficient to ensure the destruction of a 

 host of sea-lions j but after cautiously investing the 



* " Sometimes when we came suddenly upon them, or waked 

 them out of their sleep (for they are a sluggish sleepy animal), 

 they would raise up their heads, snort and snarl, and look as 

 fierce as if they meant to devour us ; but as we advanced upon 

 them, they always ran away ; so that they are downright bullies." 

 — Cook's Voyages, Vol. IV. p. 187. 



