198 SKETCH or THE HISTORY Or MAMMALIA. 



fierce, as if they meant to devour the intruder; but when 

 the men advanced, the sea-lions alviays ran away. He 

 states that the male is surrounded by from twenty to 

 thirty females, and that he is very attentive to keep them 

 all to himself, beating off every male that attempts to 

 come to his flock. Others, again, had a less number, 

 some no more than one or two ; and here and there was 

 seen one lying growling in a retired place, suffering 

 neither males nor females to come near him. These he 

 judged to be old and superannuated. 



Forster relates that the rocks along the shore in New 

 Year's Harbour were covered with multitudes of these 

 sea-lions. " We put into a little cove under the shelter 

 of some rocks, " says he, " and fired at some of these 

 fierce animals, most of which immediately threw them- 

 selves in*o the sea. Some of the most unwieldy however 

 kept their ground, and were killed by our bullets. The 

 noise which all the animals of this kind made was various, 

 and sometimes stunned our cars. The old males snort 

 and roar like mad bulls or lions, the females bleat exactly 

 like calves, and the young cubs like lambs. They live to- 

 gether in numerous herds. The oldest and fattest males 

 lie apart, each having chosen a large rock to which none 

 of the rest dare approach without engaging in furious 

 combat." Forster goes on to relate that they were often 

 seen to seize each other with an indescribable degree of 

 rage, and that many of them had deep gashes on their 

 backs, which they had received in the wars. The 

 younger active sea-lions, with all the females and the 

 cubs, lay together. They commonly awaited the ajjproach 

 of the people ; but as soon as some of the herd were 

 killed, the rest precipitately fled, some females carrying 

 off a cub in their mouths, while many were so terrified 

 that they left the young behind. When undisturbed, 

 they were often observed caressing each other in the 

 most tender manner, and their snouts often met together 

 as if they were kissing. The same author states that 

 they come on shore on those uninhabited spots to breed, 

 and that they do not feed during their stay on land, 

 which sometimes lasts for several wrecks ; they then 



