THE ELEPHANT-SEAL. 



191 



wounds or debility From undertaking the ordinary journey. 

 As soon as the frost commences in the low southern lati- 

 tudes, the herds begin their return towards the tropic, 

 and in Jui.e have arrived at their accustomed breeding- 

 places. 



y 



^~- "<i 



130.— Elephant-Seal. Femalf 



Captain Carmichael, in his description of the island of 

 Tristan d'Acunha (see ' Linn. Trans.,' vol. xii.), observes 

 that a full-grown male will yield seventy gallons of oil ; 

 indeed, as they crawl along, their hody trembles like a 

 great bag of jelly. " These seals pass the greater part 

 of their time on shore : they may ho seen in hundreds 

 lying asleep along the sandy beach, or among the long 

 grass which borders the seashore. These huge animals 

 are so little apprehensive of danger, that they must be 

 kicked or pelted with stones before they make any effort 

 to move out of one's way. When roused from their 

 slumber, they raise the fore part of their body, open 



